Archive of articles from 2012

Militant group offers British hostage in return for Qatada

Abu Qatada is wanted in his native Jordan for conspiracy to commit acts of terror and has been described as Al-Qaida's "spiritual leader" in Europe.

A faction of Al-Qaida in North Africa is offering the release of a British citizen in exchange for the release of radical cleric Abu Qatada.

Boris and Ken in statistical dead heat as polls turn sour for Tories

London votes: Just days until polling day

Boris Johnson's lead over Ken Livingstone is slim enough for the Labour candidate to pull off a surprise victory on Thursday, a new poll suggests.

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Angry Cameron lashes out after forced Hunt appearance

Pressure's on: Cameron told to make statement to Commons

David Cameron has lashed out in the Commons after being forced to return to Westminster to answer questions about the Jeremy Hunt row.

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PM shocked at aid worker's 'brutal' death in Pakistan

The Red Cross has been present in Pakistan since 1947

Prime minister David Cameron has spoken out against the murderers of 60-year-old British aid worker Khalil Dale, whose body was discovered yesterday.

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Labour MP: Voters 'responsible' for austerity if Boris stays

Jon Trickett: 'The Tories will feel strengthened'

Voters will be responsible for austerity policies unless they vote against Boris Johnson this week, a Labour MP has claimed.

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Labour focused on recession misery ahead of May 3rd elections

Labour would reverse 'granny tax' in May's Queen's Speech

Labour's leaders are fighting this week's local elections by pointing the finger at the "out-of-touch" coalition government.

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Cardinal slams 'immoral' PM over Robin Hood tax

Cardinal Keith O'Brien hits out against David Cameron's 'immoral' approach

Protecting the City while neglecting Britain's struggling families is "immoral", according to Scotland's senior Catholic.

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Recession woes: Coalition won't budge despite new poll low

Britain's economy is now back in recession - and the Tories are paying a political price

David Cameron is refusing to revert to a 'plan B' despite the double-dip recession and a new polling setback for his party.

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Cameron wants 'natural justice' for Hunt at Leveson

Jeremy Hunt won't lose his job until after his Leveson inquiry appearance

David Cameron will act as the judge of Jeremy Hunt's behaviour after Lord Justice Leveson refused to do so, he has made clear.

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Nearly 32% of shareholders reject Barclays pay deal

Barclays chairman Marcus Agius attempted to quell the rebellion by promising to address the problem.

Barclays bank faced outrage from its shareholders at its annual general meeting today, with close to 27% voting against executives' pay.

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Less than half of EU aid going to poor countries

"Giving aid to relatively rich countries like Turkey could devalue the concept of aid."

MPs are warning the government that too much of EU development aid is going to "relatively rich" states.

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Labour backs porn 'opt-in' proposal

Labour tried to outmanoeuvre the Conservatives on the issue of pornography today, as it threw its support behind plans to force internet users to 'opt-in' to online sexual content.

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Hunted: Pressure builds on No.10 over BSkyB row

Hunted: The media secretary will be lucky to keep his job

Downing Street's attempts to prevent an independent inquiry into Jeremy Hunt's actions during News Corp's bid for BSkyB seemed doomed to failure last night, amid mounting pressure in Westminster.

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Murdoch lawyer accuses him of 'shameful lie'

Tom Crone was a former lawyer for News International

Rupert Murdoch's lawyer said he was engaged in a personal campaign against him after he gave evidence to the Leveson inquiry today.

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Hunt abandoned by DCMS boss

Jeremy Hunt's handling of the BSkyB bid now threatens his career

Jeremy Hunt's senior civil servant has refused to explicitly back the embattled culture secretary.

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Poll puts Boris eight points ahead as Greens overtake Lib Dems

The incumbent mayor is set to win re-election next week

Boris Johnson will be re-elected mayor of London on the 3rd of May, according to the latest ComRess poll.

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Murdoch blames cover-up for phone-hacking 'failure'

Rupert Murdoch faces tough questions at the Leveson inquiry

Rupert Murdoch has blamed "one or two individuals" for not telling him about phone-hacking at the News of the World in his appearance at the Leveson inquiry.

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Cameron hails progress on renewable energy

The talks will attempt to make green energy more "financially sustianable"

Britain has gone from little use of renewable energy to having it account for nearly 10 per cent of its electricity sources, the prime minister will say today at a meeting of energy ministers in London.

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Double-dip doubted as Balls slams austerity

Has the UK economy really suffered a double-dipper of a recession?

Economists are questioning whether Britain is really in a double-dip recession, as Labour makes the most of yesterday's news.

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Olive branch: Ken offers Oona a job

Oona King failed to secure Labour's nomination for London mayor

Ken Livingstone tried to patch things up with his Labour rival for mayoral candidate today with an offer of a job for Oona King if he wins the elections.

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'Shadow of sleaze': Miliband savages Cameron at PMQs

Cameron endured a rough PMQs amid the Hunt row and ugly economic figures

David Cameron has endured one of his worst PMQs since becoming prime minister, when a return to recession and allegations from the Leveson inquiry proved disastrous for the government.

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Hunt survives Commons statement… for now

Jeremy Hunt looks set to stay in his job at least until his appearance at the Leveson inquiry, after he emerged relatively unscathed from a torrid session in the Commons.

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