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Labour's tax rise to pay for care homes

Labour is considering a plan to raise National Insurance contributions to fund a guaranteed minimum level of care for the elderly, The Independent has learnt.

More UK Politics news

Too much that falls under the category of consummation conforms to the nursery rhyme dictum that when it is good it is very, very good, but when it is bad it is horrid

Is this a new age of female sexual assertiveness?

Private sex parties are apparently all the rage for successful career women. Charlotte Philby investigates.

More Love & Sex Articles

It's just like watching Henman all over again

Britain suffered another agonising semi-final defeat – but this time the crowd didn't offer unstinting support.

Leading article: Volley of despair

Michael Jackson was thrilling in his prime - but has recent coverage acknowledged the darker side of his story?

Michael Jackson: Bad! And very dangerous

John Niven questions the adulation of the 'King of Pop', given the child abuse allegations of recent years.

More Americas News

Battle for the pink vote gets poisonous

Conservatives hit back at Ben Bradhaw's claim that their gay rights conversion is ‘skin-deep’.

Leading article: The fight goes on

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Your complete guide to The Ashes

The key players, the legendary series and the crucial factors for 2009, plus interviews with Alastair Cook, David Gower and Mike Hussey plus much much more in The Independent's guide to this summers Ashes.

Lord Adonis: The man in charge of the train set

Written off as a Blairite, the new Transport Secretary has made a startling new beginning in a job that he has always wanted

Pride of Da Vinci's genius walks again after 500 years

This king of the jungle was created to flatter a king of France. Now Leonardo's amazing feat of engineering has been given new life by an Italian designer, to roars of approval. John Lichfield reports

China's BAIC joins fight for Vauxhall parent GM Europe

Formal offer from Chinese takes on Ripplewood and Russian-backed Magna

19-year-old becomes fourth Briton to die from swine flu

A south London teenager who died on Wednesday was the fourth person in Britain to succumb after contracting swine flu.

A new journey of exploration for Michael Palin

As the Royal Geographical Society's new head, Michael Palin is a man with the world in his hands. He tells Michael McCarthy of his passion for the spirit of Shackleton

ESPN to tie up with Sky over SPL rights

ESPN and BSkyB are set to launch a joint bid to screen the Scottish Premier League from next season, with an announcement expected as early as today.

Gamer steals from virtual world to pay real debts

Facing real world debts, a trusted figure in a popular online game stole money from the virtual bank he ran and exchanged it for cash through the black market.

How global warming shrank St Kilda's sheep

Darwinism turned on its head as milder winters allow smaller lambs to survive

Flood warnings issued as heatwave continues

Balls announces school places inquiry

An inquiry to find out how many parents are "playing the system" to get their children into a school of their choice was ordered yesterday by the Children's Secretary, Ed Balls.

'Fraud' case dropped against school place mum

Karl Malden: Actor known for his gritty film roles who found wider fame in 'The Streets of San Francisco'

Character actors, by definition, rarely stand out in the Hollywood crowd, unlike leading men whose chiselled features are etched in the public's consciousness. Karl Malden was the exception.