Here are the business stories making the headlines across Scotland and the UK this morning.
Just Stop Oil ‘spiritual leader’ jailed for five years for M25 protest
The founder of Just Stop Oil has received the longest ever jail sentence for non-violent protest under laws designed to crack down on public disruption.
Roger Hallam, 58, was jailed for five years for co-ordinating the protests that disrupted the M25 in London over four days in 2022. Forty-five protesters climbed gantries on the motorway, forcing police to stop the traffic.
Daniel Shaw, 38, from Northampton, Lucia Whittaker De Abreu, 35, from Derby, Louise Lancaster, 58, from Cambridge, and Cressida Gethin, 22, from Hereford, were each sentenced to four years after being found guilty of conspiring to cause a public nuisance.
Stoneywood Gate developers appeal to Scottish Government
Plans for a new drive-thru and EV charging site in Stoneywood are in the hands of the Scottish Government as developers make a final bid for the project.
CoCity’s Stoneywood Gate proposal was narrowly refused by councillors back in May.
But, the firm has lodged an appeal against the rejection in the hope that Ministers will allow the development to go ahead.
Click here to read more in the Press & Journal.
Unemployment in Scotland rises sharply
Unemployment in Scotland has risen sharply, with fewer people in work, according to official data.
The unemployment rate was 4.9% for the March to May period, a rise of 0.8 percentage points on the previous three months.
That meant there were about 133,000 people seeking work, an increase of 22,000 on the prior quarter.
Carpetright competitor close to deal for troubled retailer
A rival to Carpetright is leading the race to buy parts of the troubled floorings retailer.
Tapi, set up by members of the family that founded Carpetright, has made a formal bid to purchase the intellectual property, brand and a portfolio of stores. It is not believed to want to buy the company’s head office in Purfleet, Essex.
A sale most likely would be completed via a pre-pack administration, which could result in several hundred jobs lost and stores closed. This is a form of restructuring that often leaves customers, suppliers, sub-contractors and landlords out of pocket.
Click here to read more in The Times.
Nationalised rail and energy is our patriotic mission, says Labour
State ownership of key industries is a “patriotic mission”, Labour has declared as it plans to rush through laws to renationalise the railways.
A rail nationalisation bill published on Thursday bans new private franchises. Ministers want it to be made law by the end of the year, with Louise Haigh, the transport secretary, describing the measure as a “clear signal of intent”.
Ed Miliband, the energy secretary, said that he was determined to increase the pace of clean power development because of the urgent threats of Russia, climate change and the cost of living crisis.
He warned MPs that local communities could not have a “veto” on vital energy projects as he said that planning rules that had delayed big projects had “made us poorer as a country”.
Click here to read more.