Housing benefit cuts

Cuts to housing benefit have been the subject of an increasingly furious row between the government and Labour.

In deputy prime minister's questions yesterday, shadow justice minister Chris Bryant attacked Nick Clegg for what he called a "sociological cleansing" of inner London.

The Liberal Democrat leader responded furiously, insisting the cuts planned would increase incentives to work.

However, some Lib Dem MPs are wary of the changes, with Simon Hughes indicating that alterations would have to be negotiated before they could be approved.

No 10 has dismissed reports this morning that a compromise was in the offing, despite reports that Iain Duncan Smith, work and pensions secretary, was prepared to negotiate with inner London MPs.