Archive of articles from 2012

Victory at last: High court quashes Hillsborough 'accidental death' verdict

Hillsborough: Justice at last after over two decades of campaigning?

Families of those killed in the Hillsborough disaster won recognition of their campaign after nearly a quarter of a century today when the high court quashed the verdict of 'accidental killing' concerning their deaths.

Pollard: Newsnight Savile decision flawed... but no cover up

The decision by Newsnight to drop its investigation into Jimmy Savile was "flawed" according to the Pollard review released today.

comments

Protecting the trolls: New guidance blocks heavy-handed Twitter police

Trolls: New laws protect offence but will clamp down on sustained aggressive trolling

People posting offensive comments online will be largely protected from prosecution under new guidelines being published by Keir Starmer.

comments

Defence lab's animal testing keeps rising

Pigs, rabbits, monkeys and rodents have been tested on by Britain's main defence lab

Campaigners have expressed disappointment after it emerged the government's main defence laboratory is steadily increasing its number of experiments on animals.

comments

Outrage after Ukip candidate backed compulsory Down's abortions

Clark called for foetuses with complications like Spina Bifida to be automatically aborted - to save money

A Ukip local elections candidate who suggested foetuses with debilitating syndromes could be automatically aborted has been suspended from the party.

comments

Conspiracy theory: Met begins probe into Mitchell plebgate scandal

CCTV footage shows Andrew Mitchell leaving Downing Street with his bicycle by the side gate

Conservative calls for Andrew Mitchell to be returned to government are gathering momentum, after it was suggested last night police officers could have fabricated evidence against him.

comments

Leading Muslims demand mosque gay marriage ban

Muslims are broadly opposed to gay marriage

The government's move to outlaw Church of England (CofE) gay marriages is discriminatory, the Muslim Council of Britain (MCB) has claimed.

comments

Queen takes PM's seat in 'daft' Cabinet visit

The Queen sat in David Cameron's seat for the meeting

Britain's politically neutral head of state has attended the normally politics-riven Cabinet meeting which guides government thinking for the first time in her reign.

comments

Damp squib: British bill of rights report backs Human Rights Act, too

Loggerheads: Clegg and Cameron wanted different things from the British bill of rights commission

The commission into the British bill of rights will finally publish its report today, but it is expected to do so with a whimper rather than a bang.

comments

Voters want richest to face hefty speeding fines

Carlos Tevez was fined £60 for speeding - when he earns £100,000 a week

Two-thirds of voters think the coalition's drive to make the rich pay more should be extended to fines for speeding offences.

comments

Yeo: Wrong decisions being made on energy policy

Yeo wants to see more green energy investment

A senior Conservative MP is mounting an attempt to get an emissions target included in the upcoming energy bill, against the wishes of the government.

comments

Poll: Tories haemorrhaging support as Ukip benefits

Soaring: Ukip is capitalising on changing attitudes towards the EU.

The Tories have lost one-sixth of their support over the last two months, according to a shocking new poll which will further boost Ukip's reputation.

comments

Cameron promises game-changing EU speech next month

Many in his party will hope the PMs speech will upset Barroso

The prime minister has confirmed that he will be making his much anticipated speech about Europe in the middle of January.

comments

Grudge match: Alex Ferguson vs Alex Salmond

Spoiling for a fight: Alex Ferguson is expected to play a prominent role in the independence debate

Alex Ferguson had a few choice words for Alex Salmond today, amid attempts to limit the role Scots outside the country could have in the independence campaign.

comments

'Every trick in the book': It's Clegg 2.0

Clegg is keen to defend his party's record in government

Nick Clegg was accused of trying "every trick in the book" to distance himself from his record today, after he made a keynote speech describing the Liberal Democrats as the only genuine party of the middle ground.

comments

Queen faces first Cabinet meeting

"I'm sure we'll find room for one more" - Queen to attend Cabinet

The Queen will attend Cabinet tomorrow for the first time in her reign, No 10 has announced.

comments

Cameron defies Clegg over 'illiberal' alcohol pricing policy

Plans are aimed at curbing binge drinking

David Cameron is continuing to commit to a policy of minimum alcohol pricing of 45p per unit, despite many Cabinet members opposing the move.

comments

Revealed: Why Osborne can afford to ignore the rating agencies

Feeling cocky? Osborne may be able to survive a downgrade without too much economic damage

George Osborne had cause to smile today after new data suggested he may be able to ride out any downgrading of the UK's credit rating without a damaging rise in interest payments.

comments

Benefits battle rages in marginal seats

The Tory party's welfare campaign is a direct riposte to Labour's offensive in marginal seats

Bitter pre-Christmas campaigning has broken out in marginal seats, after Labour mounted an offensive against the autumn statement's benefit cuts.

comments

Met arrests police officer over 'plebgate'

Andrew Mitchell denied using the world 'pleb' to describe a 'member of the lower social classes'

A police officer has been arrested and bailed in connection with the 'plebgate' incident that led to Andrew Mitchell's resignation from the Cabinet.

comments

Parliament's gay marriage enemies ready to fight

Gay marriage opponents insist marriage should only be the preserve of heterosexual couples

The fight against same-sex marriage has intensified with a cross-party letter from politicians opposing the coalition's proposals.

comments

Clegg's big election pitch: We're keepin' it real

Clegg chit-chats with a policeman on duty outside No 10. Photo: Political Pictures

Nick Clegg will paint his party as pragmatic occupiers of the centre-ground in a major speech on Monday setting out the Liberal Democrats' platform for the 2015 general election.

comments