More than 40 Conservatives, including four former cabinet minsters, have signed an open letter calling for David Cameron not to shy away from introducing a tougher system of press regulation.

Outlook Images of seawater bursting through New York subway defences and Manhattan Islanders fleeing their homes in search of dry land will hopefully serve as a wake-up call to one of the great follies of this Government. Hurricane Sandy is a horrific, unique event, but flooding is not, particularly if you live in areas like Hull, Tyne and Wear or Tewkesbury. Not if you own one of the 200,000 homes that are considered highly at risk of being washed out as the weather grows increasingly volatile.

Ministers are hoping dairy farmers and processors reach agreement at crisis talks today aimed at ending the escalating dispute over milk prices.

The Government set out plans yesterday to reform the water industry, claiming that opening up the sector would save the economy £2bn over 30 years,

As the rain deluge continues, can Britain keep its head above water? Jonathan Brown

Controversial plans to sell off England's public forests were finally abandoned by the Government yesterday after an expert panel called for the 637,000 acres of woodland owned by the Forestry Commission to remain in public ownership.

Controversial plans to sell off England’s public forest estate were finally abandoned by the Government today, after an expert panel called for the 637,000 acres of woodlands owned by the Forestry Commission to remain in public ownership.

The Government was forced to defend its spending on flood prevention yesterday as the clean-up from a weekend of more flooding continued.

The Government was forced to defend its spending on flood defences today as the clean-up from a weekend of more flooding continued.

We are using more and more, but Treasury puts popularity with shoppers before the environment

Fines for householders who make mistakes over putting their bins out for collection are being reduced from today.

The Government today insisted it was not rolling back environmental safeguards as it announced it was scrapping 53 "obsolete" green rules and improving 132 more.

Car owners are to face fines of £100 if anyone throws litter from their vehicle.