Archive of May 2006
Police merger plans face legal challenge
Cleveland police authority has today launched a legal challenge against the government's plans to merge it with two others in the north east.
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Teenagers facing drug testing in schools
Secondary school pupils across England and Wales could face random drug testing after a pilot scheme was found to help children resist peer pressure.
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New rights for unmarried couples mooted
Unmarried couples who live together could be given new rights to inherit property after a death or divide assets when they separate, under plans unveiled today.
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Prescott defiant as PLP chair calls for calm
John Prescott has insisted he is not going to "give in to the media campaign" and will remain in his job as deputy prime minister.
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NHS patients get wider choice of hospitals
NHS patients requiring hospital treatment will be able to have it anywhere in England and Wales under new plans outlined by the government today.
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Council leadership 'contributed to race riots'
The race riots in Burnley in 2001 were partly caused by resentment over unequal council spending, a new report finds.
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Tax credit overpayments reach £1.8bn
The Liberal Democrats have called for the minister in charge of tax credits to resign after the government admitted £1.8 billion was overpaid in the system last year.
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McGuinness dismisses spy claims as rubbish
Sinn Fein chief negotiator Martin McGuinness has dismissed allegations that he is a British spy as a "load of rubbish".
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Minister defends Prescott against resignation calls
Defence secretary Des Browne has insisted John Prescott plays a "very important role in government".
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Tory right-wingers attack Cameron's A-list
David Cameron's A-list of preferred parliamentary candidates has today come under fire from a group of right-wing Conservative MPs.
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NHS computer system 'to cost £20bn'
The government's new IT system for the NHS is two years behind schedule and could cost up to £20 billion, Lord Warner has admitted.
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Chief judge says too many people in prison
Too many people in Britain are being sent to prison when they could be given community punishments or put in rehabilitation, the lord chief justice warned today.
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EU ministers agree services deal
A new EU agreement to open up the European services market will benefit Britain by about £5 billion a year, the government has said.
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Browne: Iraqis must tackle violence themselves
The defence secretary has repeated his insistence that British troops will not pull out of Iraq after two more soldiers were killed at the weekend.
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Hilary Benn defends Prescott
John Prescott has been defended by government minister Hilary Benn, amid calls from MPs and commentators for him to leave the cabinet.
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Pensioners 'need property advice'
The government should provide pensioners with a telephone advice service to help them decide whether to sell their homes, a report published tomorrow will claim.
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Prescott under pressure
Deputy prime minister John Prescott faced renewed attacks from fellow MPs and the press this weekend after The Daily Mail published a picture of him playing croquet on Thursday afternoon.
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Foreign prisoners 'released from hospitals'
The Home Office faces more foreign prisoner allegations today as claims emerged that offenders were released from secure hospitals without their knowledge.
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UK government offers help to earthquake victims
Hilary Benn has said the British government will offer "financial assistance" to victims of today's devastating earthquake in Indonesia.
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Foreign prisoners moved after open prison escapes
Foreign prisoners held at an open prison are being moved to a more secure place after a number of them walked off, it has emerged.
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Tories get poll boost at Labour's expense
Public support for the Conservatives has continued to rise to the detriment of Labour, a new poll shows.
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Lib Dems get tough on crime
Menzies Campbell today rejected claims the Liberal Democrats were soft on crime and said tackling this issue was his top priority.
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Government slammed over torture agreements
A parliamentary committee has today expressed "grave concern" at the government's use of diplomatic assurances to deport people to countries where they may face torture.
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Galloway: Blair assassination would be justified
George Galloway has been forced to clarify his statement to a magazine that it would be "morally justified" to assassinate Tony Blair.
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Watchdog calls for tougher rules on MPs' groups
All-party parliamentary groups (APGs) must be clearer about their links with lobbyists and other interested bodies, the standards watchdog has said.
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