Closing summary
Magistrates have been ordered to delay jailing criminals in a bid to ease prison overcrowding. Court of appeal judge Lord Justice Green issued a listing direction to magistrates’ courts managers in England and Wales, saying offenders likely to be jailed should have their sentencing hearings postponed until the government’s plans to free thousands of offenders early from prison come into force next month. The body representing magistrates described the move as “another sticking plaster to hold our crumbling justice system together”, while solicitors repeated calls for an “urgent injection of funding” to get a grip on the crisis.
Scotland’s finance secretary, Shona Robison, said she is working on cutting back Scottish government spending amid a “very challenging environment” for public finances, pledging to update MSPs on her choices in early September. Robison said more cost-cutting measures are needed following the Treasury’s review of public finances and uncertainty over how pay review body recommendations will be funded.
The Metropolitan police has ended its involvement in the criminal investigation into the placing of bets on the date of the general election. The investigation by the Gambling Commission into whether offences were committed under the Gambling Act continues.
China’s president Xi Jinping discussed cooperation in finance, the green economy and artificial intelligence during his first official phone call with Keir Starmer on Friday. The call was reportedly made at Starmer’s request and is the first between Xi and a British prime minister since March 2022.
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More spending cuts needed amid 'very challenging environment', Scottish finance secretary says
Scotland’s finance secretary Shona Robison says she is working on cutting back Scottish government spending amid a “very challenging environment” for public finances.
Scottish ministers have already begun cutting spending, including scrapping a pilot scheme that removed peak fares from all domestic rail services, in preparation for an emergency budget this autumn.
The PA news agency reports:
Ms Robison said more cost-cutting measures are needed following the Treasury’s review of public finances and uncertainty over how pay review body recommendations will be funded.
Earlier this month she confirmed a freeze on public sector recruitment for everything except “essential frontline” posts.
Scottish ministers have also confirmed their version of the winter heating payment will now be means-tested, following a similar decision by the UK government.
The arts body Creative Scotland has also closed one of its key funds due to concerns over support from the Scottish government.
In a letter to Kenneth Gibson, convener of Holyrood’s finance committee, Ms Robison said more cost-cutting is needed in the 2024/25 financial year.
She said: “The Scottish government, along with government and public sector bodies across the UK, faces a very challenging environment as we manage our finances through the current financial year and set our budget for 2025-26.
“I am working with my cabinet colleagues to agree the necessary actions to reduce expenditure and ensure our finances are on a sustainable footing.
“Further to this, additional measures are now necessary following the UK Treasury’s recent audit of public spending and lack of clarity over whether their decision to deliver pay review body recommendations will be fully funded.”
Details are expected to be set out when the Scottish parliament returns from recess in early September.
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