Latest news with #BenMacpherson
Daily Record
06-07-2025
- Politics
- Daily Record
SNP MSPs call for Israeli Defense Forces to be proscribed as a terrorist organisation
A motion attacking Israel's military was signed by several MSPs from the SNP and Scottish Greens. Two former Scottish Government ministers have backed calls for the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) to be proscribed as a terrorist organisation in the UK. Paul McLennan and Ben Macpherson signed a motion lodged at Holyrood last week by SNP MSP James Dornan, a repeated critic of the Israeli Government. It condemns a recent vote by MPs at Westminster to ban the Palestine Action activist group in the UK after it broke into an RAF base and damaged several warplanes. The motion, which is also backed by several Green MSPs, calls on the Home Secretary to instead "proscribe only those organisations that, it considers, really do, or did, cause a threat to life, such as the Israel Defense Forces". The call was branded "ludicrous" by the Board of Deputies of British Jews. Chief executive Michael Wegier told the Times: "If the IDF did not exist, Israel would cease to exist. "Had the IDF not existed since Israel was created in 1948, there would be no Israel. So the only implication of this motion is that it is calling for the dissolution of the state of Israel, which is clearly antisemitic. "We, as Jews, are not horrified by the idea that people might criticise the Israeli government, but there is a distinction between that and calling for Israel's dissolution — and the proscribing of the IDF would be exactly that, if it was seen through to its logical conclusion." Wegier continued: "If the Scottish National Party one day wants there to be an independent Scotland, and wants to be taken seriously as an international player in the Middle East, making yourself an anathema to the one liberal democratic country in the Middle East does seem rather absurd,' he said. "The SNP, and Scottish politicians generally, need to ask themselves the question of whether they want Scottish Jews to feel comfortable living in Scotland. Because I know from the conversations I've had, with both Jews in Scotland and Jews in the UK or Israel who are from Scotland, that they are horrified at the tenor of the anti-Israel conversation and the lack of understanding of Israel's predicament." Westminster's decision to ban Palestine Action - meaning anyone found to be supporting the group faces arrest - has been questioned by Scottish trade unionists, who said it risked "undermining efforts to counter real terrorist organisations". The decision to ban the group was welcomed by Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar. But SNP MPs abstained when the issued was voted on in the Commons last week. A Nationalist MP later suggested they would have voted against the motion had it not meant that they would also be voting against proscribing two far-right groups, the Maniacs Murder Cult and the Russian Imperial Movement. An SNP spokesperson told the Times: "Since the beginning of this conflict, the SNP has been consistent in calling for an immediate ceasefire by all parties, the unconditional release of hostages, an end to UK arms sales to Israel and the recognition of Palestine as a sovereign state as part of a two-state solution to secure a lasting peace. "The focus of the international community must be in ensuring that peace is delivered, that humanitarian aid is delivered unimpeded to those who need it and that the international rule of law is enforced."
Scotsman
11-06-2025
- Business
- Scotsman
Taking big steps towards solving housing emergency
City of Edinburgh Council depute leader Mandy Watt As Edinburgh continues to grow, one of the most pressing issues we face is the shortage of affordable housing. We've seen demand for homes increase year after year, but at the same time housing costs keep rising. Sign up to our daily newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... The city's supply of social housing and the grant funding we receive from the Scottish Government to build new homes just hasn't kept pace with demand. We're working to tackle this housing emergency by both building homes and buying them. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad With around 5500 households in temporary accommodation every night because of homelessness, we've set a target to significantly improve housing and to source homes quickly, within the means that we have. Leith MSP Ben Macpherson with the First Minister John Swinney at the Granton Waterfront development Edinburgh continues to be the lowest funded local authority in Scotland per head of population and currently has fewer council-owned homes, so we need to do things differently from other councils. In the same way that homebuyers need a mortgage, borrowing has become a vital and standard part of our financial planning when we buy or build homes. It's the most straightforward way to overcome the shortfall in our grant funding. At the same time, we're also continuing to make considerable investment in net zero energy improvements to existing council homes and retrofitting buildings because we need them to be more sustainable and in good condition. This too is supported by capital borrowing. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad While our debt levels remain prudent and in line with our income and spend, our financial planning in this area is enabling us to fund the regeneration the city needs. We're using this approach to build and extend schools for the next generation, restore important structures like the North Bridge and create new communities, like the Granton Waterfront. We've also taken a big step this week towards finding a solution for the existing community on Dreghorn Estate and it's an excellent example of the power of well-managed borrowing. At a special meeting of our Finance and Resources Committee on Monday, we agreed in principle to purchase 38 homes from the Ministry of Defence for £6.65 million, using a mix of funding from the Scottish Government housing grant together with long-term loans. Rental income, over the life of the properties, will cover the borrowing costs. If agreed at full council, this purchase will secure the futures of families already living on the estate and it will also provide us with an already thriving community for other council tenants to move into. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad This is a huge step towards a positive outcome – a fantastic example of doing things differently to make sure we address our housing emergency and I know residents are very grateful that this proposal has had so much support from councillors. Cllr Mandy Watt, Edinburgh City Council Depute Leader and Finance and Resources Convener
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
D.LUXURY, Clearco, and Finaloop Partner on Sweepstakes
CULVER CITY, Calif., May 28, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- a premier facilitator of growth for direct-to-consumer (DTC) brands, has partnered with Clearco, a leading ecommerce capital provider, and Finaloop, a pioneering financial management platform, to launch the x ClearCo x Finaloop Built to Last Sweepstakes. This strategic collaboration aims to empower ecommerce brands with critical resources and financial tools necessary for sustained growth and success. The Sweepstakes, running from 05-28-2025 to 06-27-2025, invites eligible U.S.-based ecommerce businesses to enter for a chance to win comprehensive growth-oriented prizes designed to accelerate business performance. The primary prize package includes a DIGITALRx+ deep dive audit and personalized ecommerce playbook to unlock hidden growth and profit from 12 months of advanced online accounting and bookkeeping provided by Finaloop, and a $1,000 Clearco gift card. "Our sweepstakes with Clearco and Finaloop signifies a collective commitment to removing barriers that ecommerce entrepreneurs commonly face," said Ben Macpherson, CEO at "This sweepstakes encapsulates our vision to provide powerful insights, strategy, and tools to help unlock the true potential of ecommerce businesses." In addition to the grand prize, the first 100 participants in the Sweepstakes will receive a complimentary ecommerce health scan from and exclusive discounted pricing from Finaloop. The collaboration highlights the complementary strengths of each partner: Clearco's robust financial offerings, Finaloop's cutting-edge accounting solutions, and specialized ecommerce growth insights and strategies. "We continually strive to broaden access to financial services and essential strategic resources," said Olivier Grinda, COO at Clearco. "Through this collaboration, we aim to equip ecommerce brands with the critical financial and strategic tools they need to scale efficiently." To enter the Sweepstakes, business representatives are encouraged to visit and submit the required entry information. Winners will be selected under the supervision of the Sponsors and notified by email following the Sweepstakes Period. "Our goal is always to enhance financial visibility and democratize access to financial services and strategic resources," said Rafi Ganz, Head of Partnerships at Finaloop. "Through this collaboration, we aim to equip ecommerce brands with the critical financial and strategic tools they need to scale efficiently." Full details, including Official Rules, eligibility criteria, and further information about the Sweepstakes, can be found at About is the leading insights, strategy and growth execution firm for DTC businesses. provides deep e-commerce and customer insights through its DIGITALRx audits, strategy from leading growth experts, and precision growth execution services, including paid media, creative, and retention. Founded in 2018, has partnered with leading direct-to-consumer brands, helping to drive measurable increases in revenue, profit and overall enterprise value. To learn more, visit About DIGITALRx™ DIGITALRx™ has been used by hundreds of leading ecommerce brands to help unlock growth and profitability. This proprietary, proven process is the culmination of our deep industry experience as consumer brand owners and operators, marketers, and analysts—plus advanced data analytics technology, industry benchmarks, and research. About Clearco Clearco is the non-dilutive working capital solution for ecommerce businesses in the United States. Clearco's Invoice Funding and Receipt Funding allow businesses to access the capital they need for invoices and receipts pertaining to inventory, marketing expenses, shipping, logistics, tax bills, and more. Clearco funding has capped weekly payments, is non-dilutive, and does not take collateral or personal guarantees. Founded in 2015, Clearco has funded more than 10,000 businesses with $2.5B invested. For more information, visit Funding subject to meeting eligibility requirements. About Finaloop Finaloop is a leading end-to-end accounting solution built for ecommerce and multichannel brands. Powerful automations and integrations work in tandem with a team of top-level expert accountants to build your complete financial statements in real time. Through live insights down to SKU level profitability, founders are empowered to make informed decisions and optimize their business operations. To learn more, visit View source version on Contacts Media Contacts Victoria Thomsoninfo@ Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
D.LUXURY, Clearco, and Finaloop Partner on Sweepstakes
CULVER CITY, Calif., May 28, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- a premier facilitator of growth for direct-to-consumer (DTC) brands, has partnered with Clearco, a leading ecommerce capital provider, and Finaloop, a pioneering financial management platform, to launch the x ClearCo x Finaloop Built to Last Sweepstakes. This strategic collaboration aims to empower ecommerce brands with critical resources and financial tools necessary for sustained growth and success. The Sweepstakes, running from 05-28-2025 to 06-27-2025, invites eligible U.S.-based ecommerce businesses to enter for a chance to win comprehensive growth-oriented prizes designed to accelerate business performance. The primary prize package includes a DIGITALRx+ deep dive audit and personalized ecommerce playbook to unlock hidden growth and profit from 12 months of advanced online accounting and bookkeeping provided by Finaloop, and a $1,000 Clearco gift card. "Our sweepstakes with Clearco and Finaloop signifies a collective commitment to removing barriers that ecommerce entrepreneurs commonly face," said Ben Macpherson, CEO at "This sweepstakes encapsulates our vision to provide powerful insights, strategy, and tools to help unlock the true potential of ecommerce businesses." In addition to the grand prize, the first 100 participants in the Sweepstakes will receive a complimentary ecommerce health scan from and exclusive discounted pricing from Finaloop. The collaboration highlights the complementary strengths of each partner: Clearco's robust financial offerings, Finaloop's cutting-edge accounting solutions, and specialized ecommerce growth insights and strategies. "We continually strive to broaden access to financial services and essential strategic resources," said Olivier Grinda, COO at Clearco. "Through this collaboration, we aim to equip ecommerce brands with the critical financial and strategic tools they need to scale efficiently." To enter the Sweepstakes, business representatives are encouraged to visit and submit the required entry information. Winners will be selected under the supervision of the Sponsors and notified by email following the Sweepstakes Period. "Our goal is always to enhance financial visibility and democratize access to financial services and strategic resources," said Rafi Ganz, Head of Partnerships at Finaloop. "Through this collaboration, we aim to equip ecommerce brands with the critical financial and strategic tools they need to scale efficiently." Full details, including Official Rules, eligibility criteria, and further information about the Sweepstakes, can be found at About is the leading insights, strategy and growth execution firm for DTC businesses. provides deep e-commerce and customer insights through its DIGITALRx audits, strategy from leading growth experts, and precision growth execution services, including paid media, creative, and retention. Founded in 2018, has partnered with leading direct-to-consumer brands, helping to drive measurable increases in revenue, profit and overall enterprise value. To learn more, visit About DIGITALRx™ DIGITALRx™ has been used by hundreds of leading ecommerce brands to help unlock growth and profitability. This proprietary, proven process is the culmination of our deep industry experience as consumer brand owners and operators, marketers, and analysts—plus advanced data analytics technology, industry benchmarks, and research. About Clearco Clearco is the non-dilutive working capital solution for ecommerce businesses in the United States. Clearco's Invoice Funding and Receipt Funding allow businesses to access the capital they need for invoices and receipts pertaining to inventory, marketing expenses, shipping, logistics, tax bills, and more. Clearco funding has capped weekly payments, is non-dilutive, and does not take collateral or personal guarantees. Founded in 2015, Clearco has funded more than 10,000 businesses with $2.5B invested. For more information, visit Funding subject to meeting eligibility requirements. About Finaloop Finaloop is a leading end-to-end accounting solution built for ecommerce and multichannel brands. Powerful automations and integrations work in tandem with a team of top-level expert accountants to build your complete financial statements in real time. Through live insights down to SKU level profitability, founders are empowered to make informed decisions and optimize their business operations. To learn more, visit View source version on Contacts Media Contacts Victoria Thomsoninfo@ Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Business Wire
28-05-2025
- Business
- Business Wire
D.LUXURY, Clearco, and Finaloop Partner on Sweepstakes
CULVER CITY, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- a premier facilitator of growth for direct-to-consumer (DTC) brands, has partnered with Clearco, a leading ecommerce capital provider, and Finaloop, a pioneering financial management platform, to launch the x ClearCo x Finaloop Built to Last Sweepstakes. This strategic collaboration aims to empower ecommerce brands with critical resources and financial tools necessary for sustained growth and success. The Sweepstakes, running from 05-28-2025 to 06-27-2025, invites eligible U.S.-based ecommerce businesses to enter for a chance to win comprehensive growth-oriented prizes designed to accelerate business performance. The primary prize package includes a DIGITALRx+ deep dive audit and personalized ecommerce playbook to unlock hidden growth and profit from 12 months of advanced online accounting and bookkeeping provided by Finaloop, and a $1,000 Clearco gift card. "Our sweepstakes with Clearco and Finaloop signifies a collective commitment to removing barriers that ecommerce entrepreneurs commonly face," said Ben Macpherson, CEO at "This sweepstakes encapsulates our vision to provide powerful insights, strategy, and tools to help unlock the true potential of ecommerce businesses.' In addition to the grand prize, the first 100 participants in the Sweepstakes will receive a complimentary ecommerce health scan from and exclusive discounted pricing from Finaloop. The collaboration highlights the complementary strengths of each partner: Clearco's robust financial offerings, Finaloop's cutting-edge accounting solutions, and specialized ecommerce growth insights and strategies. "We continually strive to broaden access to financial services and essential strategic resources," said Olivier Grinda, COO at Clearco. "Through this collaboration, we aim to equip ecommerce brands with the critical financial and strategic tools they need to scale efficiently." To enter the Sweepstakes, business representatives are encouraged to visit and submit the required entry information. Winners will be selected under the supervision of the Sponsors and notified by email following the Sweepstakes Period. "Our goal is always to enhance financial visibility and democratize access to financial services and strategic resources," said Rafi Ganz, Head of Partnerships at Finaloop. "Through this collaboration, we aim to equip ecommerce brands with the critical financial and strategic tools they need to scale efficiently." Full details, including Official Rules, eligibility criteria, and further information about the Sweepstakes, can be found at About is the leading insights, strategy and growth execution firm for DTC businesses. provides deep e-commerce and customer insights through its DIGITALRx audits, strategy from leading growth experts, and precision growth execution services, including paid media, creative, and retention. Founded in 2018, has partnered with leading direct-to-consumer brands, helping to drive measurable increases in revenue, profit and overall enterprise value. To learn more, visit About DIGITALRx™ DIGITALRx™ has been used by hundreds of leading ecommerce brands to help unlock growth and profitability. This proprietary, proven process is the culmination of our deep industry experience as consumer brand owners and operators, marketers, and analysts—plus advanced data analytics technology, industry benchmarks, and research. About Clearco Clearco is the non-dilutive working capital solution for ecommerce businesses in the United States. Clearco's Invoice Funding and Receipt Funding allow businesses to access the capital they need for invoices and receipts pertaining to inventory, marketing expenses, shipping, logistics, tax bills, and more. Clearco funding has capped weekly payments, is non-dilutive, and does not take collateral or personal guarantees. Founded in 2015, Clearco has funded more than 10,000 businesses with $2.5B invested. For more information, visit Funding subject to meeting eligibility requirements. About Finaloop Finaloop is a leading end-to-end accounting solution built for ecommerce and multichannel brands. Powerful automations and integrations work in tandem with a team of top-level expert accountants to build your complete financial statements in real time. Through live insights down to SKU level profitability, founders are empowered to make informed decisions and optimize their business operations. To learn more, visit
