Archive of articles from 2005

Last push for EU budget deal

Tony Blair will today begin two days of talks with European leaders at Downing Street to try to secure their support for Britain's proposals for the EU budget.

Straw appeals for hostages' release

Foreign secretary Jack Straw has repeated his call for Iraqi militants to release four Westerners they are holding hostage.

Thatcher admitted to hospital

Margaret Thatcher is due to return home this morning after a health scare saw her admitted to hospital last night.

Foreign torture evidence ruled inadmissible

The law lords have today ruled that foreign evidence that might have been obtained under torture is not admissible in British courts.

Skinner evicted over Commons drug slur

Dennis Skinner has been barred from the House of Commons for the rest of the day after accusing shadow chancellor George Osborne of taking drugs.

Kennedy slams 'centralised' Labour

Liberal Democrat leader Charles Kennedy today launched an attack on the government for making Britain one of the most centralised countries in the democratic world.

Interest rates held for another month

Bank of England keeps interest rates on hold

The Bank of England today said interest rates will be held at 4.5 per cent in December.

Cameron disarms Blair with support

David Cameron today set the tone for his new style of politics when he began prime minister's questions by giving the government his full support on school reforms.

Study finds ethnic inequalities in mental health care

Black African or Caribbean people are three times more likely to be hospitalised for mental health problems than the average, a new survey finds.

NHS 'ill-equipped' to deal with reforms

One in five NHS hospital trusts is likely to report large budget deficits in the near future, with a "real risk" that many of them will fail, a new report warns.

Stamp price rise nets Royal Mail £320m

Royal Mail has been granted permission to raise the price of stamps to fund investment in services ahead of the opening up of the postal market in January.

Unions 'stuck in the past'

The militancy that governs the words and actions of trade union leaders threatens to make the organisations "irrelevant", a former TUC economics chief warns today.

Kennedy grills Blair over CIA flights

Charles Kennedy today grilled the prime minister over allegations that British airports are being used by the CIA.

Injuries compensation scheme set for overhaul

People who suffer minor injuries as a result of crime would no longer be eligible for compensation under new government proposals announced today.

Conservative policy groups unveiled

The first of six new Conservative policy groups has today been set up to help decide the direction of the party under its new leader, David Cameron.

Cameron names his cabinet

David Cameron names the members of his shadow cabinet

New Conservative party leader David Cameron has named his shadow cabinet, with a return to the front bench for former leader William Hague.

Government wasting 'billions'

Government departments are repeating 'basic' errors and wasting billions of pounds in the process, a committee of MPs warns today.

Higher limit for small claims court urged

The £1,000 claim limit in the small claims court should be raised, according to a committee of MPs.

EU commissioner slams Britain's budget plans

Britain's proposals for reforming the EU budget were last night dismissed by the European Commission president as "unacceptable" and "simply not realistic".

Cameron crowned Tory leader

David Cameron has today been named leader of the Conservative party after taking more than two thirds of the votes of grassroots members.

Tax credit reforms welcomed

Plans to reform the tax credit system to make it more flexible and reduce the scope for overpayments have been broadly welcomed by campaigners.

Sex offender management 'needs improvement'

The management of sex offenders requires "considerable improvement" to ensure members of the public are not put at risk, a new report warns.

Brown to continue Blair's reforms

Gordon Brown has today said he would carry on Tony Blair's policy of reform if he became the next prime minister.

Chancellor accused over property tax breaks

The chancellor has been accused of performing an embarrassing "climbdown" after he scrapped plans to give tax breaks to people investing in property as part of their pension.