Gary Gibbon
Coalition hopes to get its kicks from minimum wage
On the minimum wage, the government is hoping to have something it will be able to point at that will allow it to say to voters that it is taking care of the less well paid.
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Clegg: ‘Chinese style’ welfare reforms penalise young people
Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg launches an assault on “Chinese-style” welfare reforms being floated by the Tories.
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Tories ‘suppressing’ garden cities report
The Conservatives are accused of suppressing a report that calls for two new garden cities to combat the housing shortage.
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Gary Gibbon
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More flooding to come in worst winter storms for 20 years
More flood warnings and alerts are issued across England and Wales, as David Cameron pledges that lessons will be learned from the damage caused by severe flooding from Cornwall to Scotland.
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Clegg vow to veto EU curbs on immigration as Tories ‘panic’
Nick Clegg pledges to block any fresh attempts to curb immigration from the European Union, insisting “this is where we draw the line”, as Vince Cable says the Tories are ‘in a panic’ on the subject.
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Gary Gibbon
Operation ‘get up Tory noses’
First it was Norman Baker serving under Theresa May at the Home Office. Now Simon Hughes has been offered a job in the Justice Department that he just couldn’t refuse.
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Gary Gibbon
Tory MPs claim veto over future coalition
Talk to Tory MPs now and you would think they will never vote for coalition again. Talk to people close to the PM and they say “that could all change if they’re staring at five years in opposition as the alternative”.
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Heathrow airport’s expansion ‘not ruled out’
Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin refuses to rule out Heathrow airport’s expansion after 2015, insisting David Cameron would not betray voters if a third runway is built after the next election.
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Coalition’s benefit reforms are on track – Duncan Smith
Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith rejects claims that the introduction of the government’s flagship universal credit reforms is in chaos.
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Government majority cut in ‘bedroom tax’ debate
The coalition government sees its majority reduced to 26 in an opposition debate on the so-called “bedroom tax”, as Liberal Democrat MPs voice their disquiet over the controversial policy.
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Energy customers treated like ‘cash cows’ – Davey
With gas and electricity bills soaring, cabinet minister Ed Davey tells the energy companies they should stop “squeezing” their customers in pursuit of higher profits.
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Gary Gibbon
Cost of living: are Tories playing on Labour’s pitch?
Across Westminster today I found quite a few coalition voices sighing that the government was yet again getting stuck into a week in which it appears to be dancing to Ed Miliband’s tune.
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Ed Davey targets ’24 hour switching’ for energy customers
Energy Secretary Ed Davey sets out reforms to the energy market which could see consumers able to switch suppliers within 24 hours – and firms face criminal sanctions.
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Michael Crick
Hague: GCHQ modified my phone to stop bugging
William Hague has revealed that GCHQ, the British intelligence gathering operation in Cheltenham, has modified his telephone to stop people bugging it – the Chinese especially.
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Economic benefits of HS2 rail line lowered
The benefits of the proposed £50bn HS2 high-speed rail line will not be as great as previously thought because of increased costs, according to a report.
