Archive of articles from 2010

The end of the Prince of Darkness?

Is Lord Mandelson's influence on the wane?

Peter Mandelson has faced criticism from across Labour after backing David Miliband in the leadership contest, suggesting his influence is on the wane after nearly a generation as one of the party's most important figures.

Outdated laws join the scrap heap

Eric Pickles' department could hardly be accused of inaction

A host of outdated local laws are set the join the scrapheap of legislation the coalition government is prepared to eliminate.

Lib Dems reject Tory pact at next election

Still on message? Clegg maintains good approval ratings among Lib Dem members

The overwhelming majority of Liberal Democrat members would reject any suggestion of cooperating with the Conservatives at the next election.

Blair 'restarts attack on Brown in memoirs'

Blair attacks his successor in his memoirs, according to the report.

Tony Blair launches a tough attack on Gordon Brown in his memoirs, according to media reports.

Balls attacks 'Miliband soap opera'

Balls: 'I don't know if there will be enough time for me'

Ed Balls has lashed out at the Miliband brothers "soap opera" dominating the Labour leadership race.

Britain and France 'to share naval power'

Britain's naval forces could soon be sharing the task with the French

French and Royal Navy aircraft carriers could share responsibility for patrolling the world's oceans, according to media reports.

Osborne to cut Treasury staff 'by a quarter'

The Chancellor is making swingeing cuts to his own deparment

The Chancellor is to set an example for all government departments by axeing staff in his own, according to media reports.

Bookies back David Miliband for leader

The betting community appears to be firmly behind David Miliband

David Miliband received a boost to his campaign for the Labour leadership, with the odds on his victory down to 1/3, according to Paddy Power.

Burnham: 'I can still win'

Andy Burnham still believes he is in with a chance of leading the Labour party

Andy Burnham has made a last-ditch attempt to regain some momentum in the Labour leadership contest, insisting that he is still capable of winning as the voice of so-called 'true' Labour.

Clegg in Afghanistan

Mr Clegg insists UK troops will be withdrawn from Afghanistan by 2015

The tide of the conflict in Afghanistan has turned in favour of coalition forces, Nick Clegg has said on a surprise visit to Helmand province.

Ian Tomlinson pathologist 'unfit to practice'

The G20 protests spurred controversy that has persisted

The pathologist who examined the body of Ian Tomlinson at the G20 protests in 2009 has been found guilty of misconduct.

Commons official pleads guilty to forging MPs' signatures

The fraudster was a House of Commons official

A former House of Commons employee has pleaded guilty to three counts of fraud.

Knives out as Labour leadership race enters final stages

Exhausted: The leadership contenders are entering the final stage of a tough and protracted campaign.

The knives came out in the Labour leadership contest today, as contenders hit out at each other ahead of the contest's final stage.

Tory minister comes out as gay

Crispin Blunt is seperating from his wife

Tory prisons minister Crispin Blunt has left his wife and come out as a homosexual.

Cameron 'nearly assassinated in Afghanistan'

The prime minister narrowly avoided being assassinated during a recent trip to Afghanistan, it has emerged.

Iraq Body Count takes on Chilcot

The coffin of British personnel return from Iraq. IBC says the Inquiry has acted as if the war happened in britain.

One of the most respected organisations to emerge from the Iraq war has launched a bitter attack on the "flawed" Chilcot Inquiry.

Ed Miliband hits back at his brother - again

Ed Miliband: 'The past can be a powerful anchor.'

Ed Miliband has hit back at his brother following a week which has seen David Miliband issues a thinly-veiled attack on the "naivety" of his younger sibling.

Balls comes out fighting against 'deficit denier' tag

Balls: Everything [Osborne] is doing is designed to suck money out of the economy

Ed Balls has come out fighting in a last-minute bid to salvage his Labour leadership bid, warning that the coalition was at risk of triggering a 'double dip' recession.

Burnham: Ed vs David clash harms us all

Burnham: 'There is only so long that you can defy gravity'

Ed and David Miliband are turning the leadership contest into a stereotypical race between old and New Labour, Andy Burnham has argued.

Labour leadership: A pox on all their houses

A Labour balloon drifts into the sky on the first day of the election campaign in Bedford. Labour election failings have been front-and-centre of the leadership debate. Photo by Dominic Campbell.

Accusations of Labour comfort zones were flying thick and fast today after Ed Balls intervened in the increasingly acrimonious war of words between the Miliband brothers by branding both men "caricatures".