AV referendum

The fate of the government's proposed referendum on alternative vote (AV) hangs in the balance in the Lords today.

AV referendum

Both the 'no' and 'yes' to campaigns hosted cross-party events as the referendum on the alternative vote looms ever closer.

Corporations have a cosier relationship with the government than households, the report suggests.

Avoiding corporate tax

Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs' (HMRC) "cosy" relationship with corporations is in the spotlight following a Commons report.

AV

The bitter tussle over voting reform will be decided tomorrow as voters head to the polls to decide whether to switch to the alternative vote (AV).

Issue of the day: Autumn statement buildup

Autumn statement buildup

Next week is set to be one of the coalition's toughest yet, as the struggling economy makes spending cuts even worse.

Tough day for Osborne.

Autumn statement

George Osborne is set to unveil downgraded economic growth forecasts to MPs later.

Issue of the day: Attacking Ed Miliband

Attacking Ed Miliband

The left's debate over how to respond to the coalition's spending cuts is focusing on Ed Miliband's leadership today.

Syrian resolution

A Syria solution?

The United Nations has voted overwhelmingly in favour of an Arab league-led resolution condemning the violence of the Syrian regime and calling for it to cease.

Asylum seekers amnesty

The decision of the UK Borders Agency (UKBA) to allow 160,000 asylum seekers to remain in the UK has sparked controversy.

The Assad regime is closing in on the rebel controlled city

Assad regime tightens crackdown on Homs

Syrian government forces are intensifying their crackdown on the city of Homs, amid international condemnation of the heavy handedness of the regime.

Issue of the day: A solar setback for ministers

A solar setback for ministers

The government's high court defeat over its solar power feed-in tariff cuts is being celebrated by campaigners today.

Cuts could lose the MoD skills

Army cuts

A report released today by the National Auditing Office (NAO) criticises the Ministry of Defence (MOD) for savagely cutting its headcount without proper planning

Armed forces job cuts

Almost 2,000 armed service personnel are being told that they are losing their jobs today.

Armed forces funding

The UK's armed forces are unlikely to be able to do what is asked of them after 2015, MPs have said.

A regressive Budget

The publication of a report by the Institute of Fiscal Studies (IFS) brought the Chancellor's emergency budget back to the fore of the agenda, and said the coalition's budget plans were 'regressive'.

Archbishop vs the coalition

The Archbishop of Canterbury has hit out at the government, questioning its mandate for carrying out major reforms.

Issue of the day: Archbishop of Canterbury quits

Archbishop of Canterbury quits

Rowan Williams' departure is the latest development in a troubling period for the Church of England.

Parliament's central lobby spire

A peek into lobbying

There were fresh demands for reform of the lobbying industry today after a sting operation saw a major company boast about its influence on the prime minister.

Starting off unequal? Incomes are veering ever-further apart.

An unequal Britain

Inequality among working-age people in the UK is rising faster than other developed nations, an OECD report has shown.

Anti-tobacco moves

Proposals to introduce plain packaging for cigarettes and moves to introduce a point-of-display ban have been unveiled on No Smoking Day.

Anti-social behaviour

By arguing police forces need a new approach to tackle anti-social behaviour, HM inspector of constabulary has drawn the issue to the fore as spending cuts for the police loom large.

Issue of the day: Another unemployment high

Another unemployment high

UK unemployment has reached its highest for 17 years, in more bad economic news for the coalition.

Not enough shopping: The economy appears to be contracting.

Another recession?

Britain looks likely to slip back into recession after new figures this week showed the economy has started to contract.

Issue of the day: High speed rail report

Anger at high speed rail report

A report from MPs has reignited the debate about the government's proposal to build a high speed rail network in Britain.

Anger at Hester's £1m RBS bonus

Anger at Hester's £1m RBS bonus

Taxpayer-owned bank RBS is paying its chief executive Stephen Hester a bonus worth nearly £1 million for his work in 2011.

Issue of the day: Amended NHS reforms

Amended NHS reforms

The government has retreated further in its bid to secure agreement for its NHS reforms.

Alternative vote campaigns

The campaigns for and against the alternative vote (AV) began today with a battle of the speeches between David Cameron and Nick Clegg.

Alternative Vote

The 'yes' campaign for the alternative vote hosted a high-profile event of cross-party MPs today.

The government wants planning decisions to have a presumption they will go ahead.

A local development

MPs have criticised government plans to ease up planning applications.

A-level results day

Nearly 200,000 young people face a scramble today to grab a last-minute place at university through the clearing process.

Alcohol policy

The government's attempts to create a public health agreement on drinking were under pressure this morning as leading public health organisations denounced the plans.

Government advert teenage binge drinking alcohol

Alcohol abuse cost to taxpayer £2.78bn per year

The prime minister will use a visit to a hospital in the north-east today to highlight the cost of alcohol to the NHS.

Jobs market worsens

Alarm as job market continues to worsen

Official figures released yesterday showed the numbers of unemployed continues to rise.

Alan Johnson resignation

The New Labour stalwart's decision to quit has left the Labour party reeling.

Aircraft carriers report

Fresh doubt has been cast over Britain's two new aircraft carriers after the National Audit Office (NAO) revealed that there are serious risks to value for money.

Issue of the day:Aircraft carrier decision questioned

Aircraft carrier decision questioned

The wisdom of last year's defence and security review is being called into account once again.

Aid spending

Defence secretary Liam Fox has reopened the debate about Britain's spending on international aid.

Cameron branded health and safety regulations "a monster".

A health and safety monster

David Cameron has promised to kill the "health and safety monster" as the coalition's new year's resolution.

Issue of the day: Coalition's post-veto EU divide

After the EU veto

David Cameron is accounting for his decision to use Britain's veto at last week's European summit to MPs today.

Issue of the day: Aftermath of public sector pensions strikes

Aftermath of public sector pensions strikes

Ministers and union leaders are returning to the negotiating table after yesterday's mass walkout from public sector workers.

Issue of the day: Party leaders' new year messages

A fresh start? Party leaders' new year messages

It's a gloomy new year for the main party leaders as they assess their prospects in 2012.

Issue of the day: Affordable flooding insurance

Affordable flooding insurance

Insurers are putting pressure on the government to do more to deal with the flooding risks faced across England.

Adoption

The government will unveil plans today to encourage more adoptions across the country.

LFC

A day of contrition

In a day of extraordinary contrition, Kenny Dalglish and Luis Suarez publicly apologised for the events at Old Trafford on Saturday, which threatened to reopen a race row between Liverpool and Manchester United.

Issue of the day: Action against surcharges

Action against surcharges

Plans to ban excessive surcharges imposed on online purchases of airline, cinema and other tickets and purchases are being brought forward.

Issue of the day: Action against executive pay

Action against executive pay

The coalition is set to take action to curb high levels of executive pay, but opponents say the measures do not go far enough.

Issue of the day: Access and tuition fees

Access and tuition fees

Initial tuition fee packages for 2012 are suggesting a minor reduction in the average cost of going to university.

A cap on immigration

The government's controversial move to impose a cap for non-EU migrants picks up pace today, as the migration advisory committee publishes its findings.

Academies push

Michael Gove is today announcing a massive extension of the academies programme, in a bid to lend the ailing project some impetus.

Academies bill

The government stands accused of rushing its flagship schools reform legislation through parliament.

Podcast

politics.co.uk podcast: The failing coalition experiment

Two years have passed since Nick Clegg and David Cameron launched the coalition experiment

Neither politicians nor the public like the coalition. So what can be done to revive it? Can it survive three more years? Only if steps are taken quickly, experts are saying.

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Issue of the Month

Queen's Speech 2012

Queen's Speech 2012 focused on the economy, criminal justice and constitutional reform

The coalition has reloaded its legislative agenda with a Queen's Speech dominated by Lords reform.

Special event coverage

ESRC logo

Festival of Social Sciences: Celebrating the Social Sciences

Evidence-based policy should not be a radical concept. It needs to be celebrated.

ESRC logo

Festival of Social Sciences: 2 languages: 2 brains, 2 minds, 2 cultures?

As part of the ESRC Festival of Social Sciences, the Deafness Cognition And Language Research Centre (DCAL) hosted an event exploring the powerful benefits of bilingualism in spoken and sign languages, for hearing and deaf people alike - benefits that reach hearing and deaf people alike.

Opinion Former Events

Voice: Feeling stressed? Understand yourself? Now, move forward Conference

Application forms are now available for an exciting conference in Manchester. The fun-packed day will give you practical solutions and advice on managing stress and time to help you achieve a work/life balance.

BHA: The Marriage Debate - ‘This house would legalise same-sex marriage in England and Wales'

Two weeks before the Government’s consultation on same-sex marriage draws to a close, Andrew Copson, Chief Executive of the British Humanist Association is participating in a debate hosted by Catholic Voices on the motion, ‘This House Would Legalise Same-Sex Marriage’.

BSIA: Information Destruction Exhibition and Conference

This one-day event is targeted at professionals operating in the information destruction industry, and aims at keeping delegates updated on recent developments in their sector, providing an opportunity to network with fellow professionals, whilst offering access to an informative exhibition and a comprehensive conference programme.

ABI: The Future of Long-term Savings & Retirement Income - Automatic Enrolment and Beyond Conference

The Future of Long-term Savings & Retirement Income - Automatic Enrolment and Beyond Conference

Take the Gold Challenge for St Dunstan's

We provide lifelong support for blind and visually impaired ex-Service men and women. You can help give more blind heroes an independent future by taking the Gold Challenge

TACT: 2013 Virgin London Marathon

Join TACT at one of the greatest sporting events on the planet and help give a child in care a future to smile about.

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