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Hain 'has much to offer' Labour

Fri, 05 Dec 2008 13:30:02 GMT

Gordon Brown hinted at a political comeback for Peter Hain today after prosecutors dropped an investigation into the former Cabinet minister's campaign for Labour's deputy leadership.

Hain relieved as name cleared over donations

Fri, 05 Dec 2008 09:54:41 GMT

Former Cabinet minister Peter Hain said today he was "pleased" he had cleared his name after it emerged he would not be facing charges following an investigation into his Labour Party deputy leadership campaign.

Simon Carr: Mr Speaker can never be the same again

Fri, 05 Dec 2008 01:19:10 GMT

How can the Speaker continue? He’s been butchered. His reputation has been rendered. If you remember, we left him on Wednesday, flailing for his life on the Speaker’s throne. He offered two parliamentary remedies to the arrest of that Tory MP – a debate, and a committee appointed by himself.

The Lord who put the bounce into Brown

Fri, 05 Dec 2008 00:00:01 GMT

"Are you happy?” Gordon Brown asked Peter Mandelson at the start of one of their frequent one-to-one meetings. For once, Lord Mandelson was lost for words. Eventually, he replied: “I am happy if you are happy.” The Prime Minister said: “I am happy.” The Business Secretary said: “We are one happy family then.” They both burst out laughing.

Decision on Heathrow runway delayed

Fri, 05 Dec 2008 00:00:01 GMT

Campaigners opposing the expansion of Heathrow airport were hopeful for the first time yesterday that the Government is rethinking its support for the project, after it postponed its final decision on the addition of a third runway.

Europe strikes blow against DNA register

Fri, 05 Dec 2008 00:00:01 GMT

Retention of innocent people's DNA and fingerprint records by police is illegal, the European Court of Human Rights has ruled, but British ministers have failed to say they will observe the landmark decision.

Mole hunts extended across Whitehall

Fri, 05 Dec 2008 00:00:01 GMT

Police mole hunts have begun into other Whitehall leaks in addition to the Damian Green investigation, the Home Office disclosed yesterday as in-fighting intensified between Scotland Yard and the Commons authorities over the raid on the Tory MP's office.

Anti-trafficking unit saved from axe

Thu, 04 Dec 2008 16:24:12 GMT

The UK's only specialist police unit to combat human trafficking has been saved from the axe, Justice Secretary Jack Straw said today.

Home Secretary warns on systematic leaking threat

Thu, 04 Dec 2008 13:04:03 GMT

Home Secretary Jacqui Smith insisted today that it would have been "wholly inappropriate" for her to have intervened in police operational decisions over the Damian Green affair.

Heathrow expansion decision delayed

Thu, 04 Dec 2008 10:46:09 GMT

A Government decision on expanding the UK's biggest airport has been been postponed, it was announced today.

Investment in science vital for the future, says Brown

Thu, 04 Dec 2008 10:41:48 GMT

The UK must continue to invest in research to secure its economic future, Prime Minister Gordon Brown said today.

Bill-by-bill: From pay to poverty

Thu, 04 Dec 2008 03:20:06 GMT

Banks

By Ben Russell

Opposition MPs have warned that banking reforms will do little to break the logjam preventing lending reaching consumers and small businesses. Gordon Brown had announced that banks’ voluntary code of practice would be legally binding, giving financial services watchdogs new powers to impose fines or freeze banks’ assets if they did not comply with the code, which forces lenders to be fair when they change interest rates or conditions of loans or overdrafts.

The Big Brother state – by stealth

Thu, 04 Dec 2008 00:00:01 GMT

Personal information detailing intimate aspects of the lives of every British citizen is to be handed over to government agencies under sweeping new powers. The measure, which will give ministers the right to allow all public bodies to exchange sensitive data with each other, is expected to be rushed through Parliament in a Bill to be published tomorrow.

Brown pledges help to victims of recession

Thu, 04 Dec 2008 00:00:01 GMT

Gordon Brown said that the measures in the Queen's Speech yesterday would help Britain come through the economic downturn and prepare it for the upturn that would follow.

Speaker admits police did not have search warrant

Thu, 04 Dec 2008 00:00:01 GMT

The futures of Commons Speaker Michael Martin, his top official and a senior police officer are in question after MPs learnt that detectives raided Tory MP Damian Green's office without a search warrant.

The Big Brother state–by stealth

Thu, 04 Dec 2008 00:00:01 GMT

Today in Politics: Dramatic day, no winners

Wed, 03 Dec 2008 20:22:51 GMT

A dramatic day at Westminster. The Queen's Speech was, inevitably, overshadowed by the first Commons exchanges over the Damian Green affair. The Speaker Michael Martin revealed that the police did not have a warrant to search Green's Commons office. He sought to pass the parcel on to Jill Pay, the Serjeant at Arms, who is responsible for Commons security and gave the police written permission.

Simon Carr: The speaker gets away with it - for now

Wed, 03 Dec 2008 20:12:11 GMT

Mandelson is on manoeuvres. What a master of operations he is. He went on the radio this morning acccusing the Tories of using the Damian Green indignation as a smokescreen "to hide their collusion in breaking the law".

Police had no warrant for Commons search, says Speaker

Wed, 03 Dec 2008 15:05:22 GMT

Michael Martin disclosed today that police did not have a warrant to search Tory immigration spokesman Damian Green's parliamentary office.

Equality Bill to 'make Britain fairer'

Wed, 03 Dec 2008 13:11:10 GMT

Nine major laws and 100 other regulations will be replaced by a single Equality Bill which the Government pledged will strengthen discrimination legislation and tackle the gender pay gap, it was announced today.

Home Secretary steps in over MP arrest row

Wed, 03 Dec 2008 13:02:56 GMT

Jacqui Smith attempted to defuse a bitter showdown between MPs and the Commons Speaker today as the Whitehall leaks row escalated.

Full text of the Queen's speech

Wed, 03 Dec 2008 12:42:44 GMT

Here is a full transcript of the Queen's Speech:

Bill will strengthen regulation of banking sector

Wed, 03 Dec 2008 12:34:03 GMT

A range of measures to strengthen regulation of the crisis-hit UK banking sector were outlined in the Queen's Speech today.

Ban on 'irresponsible' drink promotions proposed

Wed, 03 Dec 2008 12:30:31 GMT

Measures to clamp down on "irresponsible" drink promotions, prostitution and lap dancing clubs were confirmed today.

Constitutional reform Bill 'when time allows'

Wed, 03 Dec 2008 12:20:36 GMT

A constitutional reform Bill will be introduced only "when time allows" during the next Parliamentary year, the Government signalled today.