Archive of March 2012

The row over ministerial advice about petrol could prove damaging to the government

Burns victim could haunt government

A woman has suffered 40% burns after decanting petrol in her kitchen, following controversial advice from ministers for dealing with a potential fuel strike.

Galloway is back: Shock by-election win stuns Labour

George Galloway's colourful political career took another unexpected turn last night when he won a stunning victory at the Bradford West by-election.
Shock result: Galloway win triggers huge losses for bookies

Some punters who bet on a Galloway victory in Bradford last night walked away with up to £100,000, bookies Ladbrokes confirmed this morning.

Miliband vows to return to constituency after hammer blow defeat

Ed Miliband promised to return to Bradford West in the coming weeks to try to understand how his party was roundly defeated in what was previously considered a safe seat.
Health watchdog 'not up to the challenge'

The body set up to monitor heath and social care in Britain has failed in its primary responsibilities, an influential committee of MPs has found.

Liam Byrne to stand down

There are widespread reports that Liam Byrne is preparing to step down to join the race for mayor of Birmingham.
Scrap foreign aid target, peers tell govt

The government should drop its commitment to spending 0.7% of gross national income on development aid, peers have said.

Easter egg packaging as wasteful as ever

Confectionary giants have done nothing to cut down on the amount of wasteful packaging on Easter eggs, a prominent MP has found.
Phone-hacking: Senior Met figure steps down

Dick Fedorcio has avoided gross misconduct proceedings by resigning from his post as director of public affairs at the Metropolitan police, as the phone-hacking scandal claimed a new scalp.

Entrenching 'choice' in law: Cameron stands by private sector vision

'New providers' will be able to break through the "state monopoly" across Britain's public services, David Cameron has insisted.
The phantom apology: Maude retracts jerry can advice

Francis Maude was wrong to encourage motorists to fill jerry cans with petrol in case of a fuel strike, the transport minister admitted last night.

The Greggs dilemma: Cameron comes out as pasty eater

The strange personal confessions which followed the introduction of VAT on hot takeway food continued today, when the prime minister gave details about the last time he ate a pasty.
Minister criticised for encouraging fuel strike panic

Francis Maude was criticised for telling motorists to stock up on fuel in "jerry cans" today, ahead of a potential strike.

Govt bids to avoid fuel strike

The government is seeking to avoid a potential fuel strike during Easter, amid claims that its statements are causing panic.
UK economy shrinking even more than thought

The British economy shrank even more than previously thought, new figures have revealed.

Greens build anti-Boris alliance with Ken

Green voters should give their second preference votes to Ken Livingstone to prevent Boris Johnson winning the London Mayoral election, members have decided.
Riots report questions troubled families focus

Troubled families targeted after last year's riots only had a "limited" impact on disorder, a government-commissioned report has found.

Labour unveils five pledges to help squeezed middle

Labour has unveiled five pledges to help struggling families ahead of the local election campaign.
Defective breast implants 'handled poorly'

Huge questions remain over the safe replacement of defective breast implants, MPs have warned.

Desmond Tutu leads demands for Britain to back down over Falklands

Desmond Tutu was among five Nobel Prize laureates putting pressure on Britain to negotiate with Argentina over sovereignty of the Falklands Islands last night.
'I don't eat in Greggs': Chancellor's pasty tax gets personal

George Osborne admitted he did not go to Greggs today, as he justified his decision to impose VAT on hot takeaway food.

Thousands of petrol stations could close as strike approved

Fuel delivery drivers have voted in favour of industrial action, raising fears that nearly 8,000 petrol stations will be forced to close.
Guarded welcome for planning reforms

Environmentalists are cautiously welcoming the publication of the coalition's controversial planning reforms.

Clegg rejects Argentine 'baseless insinuations' over Falklands

Deputy prime minister Nick Clegg has denied claims by the Argentinean government that Britain has sent a nuclear submarine to the South Atlantic.
Tweeter jailed after racist Muamba post

A student has been jailed after posting racist messages about Bolton Wanderers player Fabrice Muamba.