Depending on whose figures you use, small and medium-sized enterprises account for between 60 and 70 per cent of jobs in the UK economy, and are behind as much as two-thirds of new job creation.

After a turbulent few weeks Labour will today attempt to get back on the front foot by launching an attack on falling living standards under the Coalition Government.

Inside Westminster: Mr Mudie is a maverick, but he shouldn’t be dismissed by Team Miliband

She has now returned £120,000, the amount she received after tax

The Government faces a major challenge to its controversial plans to privatise the Royal Mail after postal workers’ leaders decided to go ahead with a national strike ballot.

Although forever identified with Algeria and its former colonial ruler France, Henri Alleg was originally a Londoner, his Russian Jewish grandparents having fled the poverty and pogroms of the 19th century to install themselves in the East End.

More than 150 jobs were axed today after a rail repairs and refurbishment company went into administration, with hundreds more workers facing redundancy, unions said.

Around 500 union representatives vote unanimously to press ahead with strike ballot

Thirty new members of the House of Lords have been announced by Downing Street, 24 of whom will sit for the Coalition parties.

ComRes poll for The Independent are a setback to the Lib Dems, who hope country's first coalition since the Second World War will make voters more open to the idea

Powerful union has called for the dissolution of the ruling coalition

Rebecca Gonsalves talks to Space NK founder Nicky Kinnaird

More than 150 staff at the House of Commons are employed on controversial zero hours contracts, despite growing calls by MPs for tougher rules to prevent workers being exploited by them.

Labour condemns 'most audacious sell-off to date'