Budget Shockwaves & Business Realities: Hunter & Haughey on Scotland’s Future

Air Date: January 18th, 2026 Hosts: Lord Willie Haughey and Sir Tom Hunter This is a catch-up version of the weekly, Go Radio Business Show, Sundays from 11am. Don’t miss it – PLAY and HIT SUBSCRIBE, and NEVER miss an episode! The GO Radio Business Show returns for 2026 with Sir Tom Hunter and Lord Willie Haughey diving straight into Scotland’s biggest economic and political talking points. From budget fallout and business rates fury to global financial instability and major wins for Scotland’s renewable future—this episode is packed with sharp insights, bold opinions, and candid commentary from two of Scotland’s most influential business leaders.

Tom and Willie unpack the pressures facing entrepreneurs, the consequences of government policy on jobs and investment, and the urgent need for enterprise‑led solutions to Scotland’s looming economic challenges. Key Episode Highlights The Scottish Budget Backlash Tom and Willie pull no punches discussing: The private jet levy—“a brilliant political move that raises next to nothing.” The mansion tax—fairness vs. rhetoric. The urgent need to grow the tax take, not just tax rates. Scotland’s Housing Emergency & Enterprise Barriers Willie warns of plunging homebuilding rates and mounting disincentives for development. A £3.5k cladding tax sparks particular outrage. The Business Rates Crisis One of the episode’s biggest flashpoints: Businesses facing massive rate hikes with no apparent logic. Jobs, investments, and entire sites now at risk. An urgent call for government to pause, review, and modernise the system—fast. Entrepreneur Manifesto Incoming Tom teases next week’s “Entrepreneurs' Manifesto,” built from input across Scotland’s business community, designed to help any political party supercharge growth. Trump, Jerome Powell & Global Market Shockwaves The hosts react to Donald Trump’s unprecedented attack on the Chair of the U.S. Federal Reserve—an event with potential worldwide financial consequences. Scottish Enterprise, SNIB & Leadership News Praise for new board appointments at Scottish Enterprise, Jim McDonald’s leadership, and David Ritchie’s appointment to SNIB—seen as key players in reviving economic momentum. Remembering Douglas Anderson A heartfelt tribute to the co‑owner of GAP Group—one of Scotland’s greatest entrepreneurial success stories. Renewable Energy Triumphs £130m investment in a liquid‑air energy storage facility at Hunterston. The world’s largest offshore wind farm approved in Scotland, supporting 9,000 jobs. Closing Rallying Cry “Let’s put the doom and gloom behind us and get the country booming again.”

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