Archive of articles from 2011

Campbell attacks 'putrid' press

Alastair Campbell said UK's media has been subverted by a small number of journalists

Tony Blair's former spin doctor Alastair Campbell wasted no time in attacking Britain's "putrid" press at the Leveson inquiry.

Massive strike over public sector pensions

Public sector workers are striking today over their pension arrangements

Up to two million public sector workers are striking over their pensions today, as union leaders' impasse with the government continues.

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'Privacy is for paedos': Tabloid journalist offers jaw-dropping evidence

The News of the World's former deputy feature editor shocked the audience at the Leveson inquiry.

A former News of the World journalist has offered a jaw-dropping defence of phone-hacking, in the most dramatic and shocking moment of the Leveson inquiry so far.

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Autumn statement 2011: Rewards for the right as Osborne rains gifts on Tory backbenches

George Osborne as he left No. 11 to deliver the autumn statement this morning.

George Osborne offered a series of gifts to Tory backbenchers in his autumn statement today, in a bid to placate right-wing elements of the Conservative party.

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Autumn statement 2011: UK firms digest 'plan A plus'

Coalition has business world firmly onside

George Osborne's autumn statement has been branded 'Plan A Plus' by business leaders.

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Autumn statement 2011: Public sector pay takes another hit

North of England will be hit especially hard by public sector pay changes

A further £1 billion is to be squeezed from the public sector by halving planned pay increases to just one per cent, George Osborne has announced.

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Autumn statement 2011: UK growth forecasts slashed amid economy gloom

George Osborne expected to unveil slashed growth forecasts

Britain will avoid a recession but official economic growth forecasts have been slashed, the chancellor has told MPs.

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Russian 'spy' allowed to stay in UK

Katia Zatuliveter can remain in the UK, court rules

The 26-year-old former lover of Liberal Democrat MP Mike Hancock has won her bid to be allowed to remain in Britain, despite MI5 allegations that she was a Russian spy.

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News International 'hacked Cabinet minister's computer'

Peter Hain's computer was hacked while he was Northern Ireland secretary - report claims

Ex-Northern Ireland secretary Peter Hain's computer may have been hacked into during his time in power, it has emerged.

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Charlotte Church: 'They put you through this grinder and it just keeps happening'

Charlotte Church: 'I had a big group of girlfriends, but the more stories came out the more people I cut out of my life'

Charlotte Church has offered a stark portrait of a life lived under the media gaze at the Leveson inquiry, saying the coverage was like being put through a "grinder".

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Miliband deserts strikers as Gove goes on warpath

Gove: 'They want families to be inconvenienced.'

Striking public sector workers were struggling to receive any support in Westminster today as Ed Miliband branded the action "a failure".

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Double-dip now underway, OECD warns

Rest of eurozone is in "mild recession" according to OECD

Britain's economy has begun a contraction which will push it into recession by the end of March, according to the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD).

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University applications down 13% following fees increase

Diminishing returns? Early evidence hints at reduced university applications.

The first evidence has emerged of a drop in university applications following the increase in tuition fees.

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The witch hunt: Jo Yeates suspect gives evidence at Leveson

An innocent man dubbed "weird", "creepy" and "disturbing" has described the "witch hunt" and "shameless vilification" he suffered at the hands of the media.

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Osborne finds cash for 'shovel-ready' projects

£5 billion found for infrastructure projects

The Treasury is to make £5 billion available for infrastructure projects to boost Britain's struggling economic recovery, George Osborne will announce.

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Neither side blinking as pensions walkout nears

This week's strike will be much larger than the walkout seen this spring

Wednesday's strikes look increasingly likely after further defiance from union chiefs over their public sector pensions clash with the coalition this weekend.

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Second poll sees Labour lead increase

Another poll has given Labour a substantial increase in their poll lead.

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Lib Dems press on with 'rebranding' exercise

The Liberal Democrats have been told to embrace short-termist politics to end their slump in the polls by "external brand experts".

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Coalition's cuts to cost 'half a million' public sector jobs

Spending cuts could cost 500k public sector workers their jobs

The coalition's austerity drive could result in 100,000 more public sector job cuts than previously thought, a report has claimed.

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£20bn credit easing plan is Osborne's 'game-changer'

Chancellor says credit easing could help companies with turnover of less than £50m

The government will prop up banking loans to small- and medium-sized firms by up to £20 billion as part of renewed credit easing efforts, the chancellor has confirmed.

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Peers take on gay church weddings days after they come into force

The Lords debate was criticised by gay rights advocates

An attempt to backtrack on rules allowing churches to conduct civil partnerships has been dubbed "spurious" by gay rights campaigners.

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Minister mocked after on-air 'meltdown'

Grant Shapps was subject to a torrent of online mockery this morning, after he spent half his interview on the Today programme bickering with the host.

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