Archive of articles from 2009

Westminster struggles on despite snow

London has been brought to a standstill by the weather

Parliament is attempting to open despite some of the worst snowfall in the UK for twenty years.

Chinese visit continues despite protests

Pro-Tibet protests in London last year. Photo taken by Myles Fisher.

Gordon Brown and David Cameron have both met premier Wen Jiabao despite widespread protests against the Chinese leader.

Carol Vorderman to head Tory taskforce

Carol Vorderman, former Countdown co-host

Former Countdown co-host Carol Vorderman will head a Conservative taskforce into mathematics teaching, party leader David Cameron has said.

Parliament votes on corruption

MPs will vote on an opposition day motion today which seeks to reform parliament following the cash-for-amendments scandal and Derek Conway's breach of parliamentary standards.

Wildcat strike spreads to Sellafield

The strike originally began in Lindsey refinery

Workers at the Sellafield nuclear site have joined wildcat strikes about the use of foreign workers.

Brown condemns wildcat strikes

Gordon Brown has described the strikes as "indefensible"

The prime minister has condemned wildcat strikes to prevent the use of foreign labour as "indefensible".

Search powers right to be dropped

New bill would have given electoral commission more powers than police

Powers to raid political candidates' homes and offices without a warrant broke human rights law and were right to be dropped, according to report out today.

PM should 'shake up' lobbying world

Emergency clean-up of the Lords underway

Jack Straw looks to clean-up the House of Lords

An emergency 'clean-up' of the Lords is underway with Jack Straw, justice secretary, bringing forward new legislation to bring Lords regulation more into line with that of MPs.

Airports brought to a halt

Planes have been grounded due to the weather

Air travel into, from and around the UK is being severely disrupted by the heaviest snowfall in the south-east of England for 18 years.

Chaos for commuters

Many commuters are having to make their trips on foot

People are being urged to only travel if absolutely necessary today after heavy snowfall saw the rail and road services in the south-east shudder to a halt.