The Government is putting short-term political aims above concerns over long-term migration with its plans to cut the number of international students coming to the UK, a think-tank said today.

Research shows most see Tories as the rich people's party, while Labour can't be trusted to run economy, reports Oliver Wright

Survey shows that most feel Conservatives are the party of the rich – while Labour still can't be trusted to run the economy

Study warns that poverty will force millions to stay in work for years after they can claim a state pension

Poll finds people on lower incomes are losing hope – but those better off say things are looking up

Report condemns a lack of opportunities and bleak outlook in employment

Out of America: Party political bankrollers are mounting a takeover of think tanks. If they succeed, US politics will become more partisan than ever

Labour's failure to tackle the "chips and PlayStation 3 culture" means one-fifth of primary-school leavers are now obese, the shadow health minister Diane Abbott has admitted, in a warning that the health of Britain's children is a national emergency.

A radical reform in Whitehall must be pushed through to head off a looming crisis in public services, David Cameron is warned today.

Long before Yes Minister became a British, and then an international, television success, the terms Civil Service and reform, used together, were wont to raise scornful laughter. To this day, the senior levels of government service retain, not always justly, this image of institutional immutability. A report out today, couched as an open letter to the heads of the Civil Service, Sir Jeremy Heywood and Sir Bob Kerslake, wants to change that. It has much to commend it.

Measure would allow greater flexibility over tax thresholds and steal Lib Dems' thunder

Hospital wards for the elderly would be closed to release funds for old people to be cared for in their own homes under plans to tackle the looming social care crisis being drawn up by Labour.

Green energy company Ecotricity has backed The Independent’s campaign to highlight the high prices of the Big Six energy firms by producing an online film which is rapidly going viral.

President Gurbanguli Berdymukhamedov won a new five-year term by capturing 97 per cent of the vote, officials said yesterday, but a Western expert said the poll was a sham.