11 August 2010

Everything in politics

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6.21pm Ratings agencies

George Osborne may have saved Britain's credit rating – but has he saved the economy?

Standard & Poor's says it is still reviewing UK's credit rating – but meanwhile the government's borrowing cost is remarkably low. By Jill Treanor
6.17pm Aston Villa

David Cameron expresses sadness over Martin O'Neill's Aston Villa exit

The prime minister, David Cameron, has expressed his sadness over Martin O'Neill's decision to resign as manager of Aston Villa
5.56pm Economics

Chancellor's cheerleaders learn austerity will hurt them too

The City cheered the tough measures in George Osborne's budget – but now they've realised it's going to be painful for everyone
5.39pm BNP

BNP attends international far-right conference in Japan

BNP staff manager Adam Walker will join MEPs and members of far-right parties from across Europe at Tokyo-based congress
5.23pm Abdelbaset al-Megrahi

Alex Salmond will not publish Lockerbie bomber medical records

Abdelbaset al-Megrahi's private health reports will not be disclosed despite Democrat senators' plea
5.22pm London

Ray Lewis and the 'bollocks' industry

Dave Hill: Last night's TV show about Boris Johnson's "gang czar" did him no favours at all
4.54pm Liberal-Conservative coalition

Sayeeda Warsi and Chris Huhne attack Labour over public finances

Tory chair and Lib Dem climate change secretary also criticise previous government for taking severance pay
4.25pm Economic growth (GDP)

Growth forecasts of a collapsing economy: visualising the story of a recession

The Bank of England has just forecasted what will happen to growth in its latest inflation report. See our animation of how those GDP forecasts changed during this recession
3.30pm Liberal-Conservative coalition

This coalition's incoherent first chapter

Christopher Montgomery: David Cameron has steered clear of unpopular decisions, and done a professional job of keeping the Lib Dems onside
2.50pm Climate change scepticism

Lords distance themselves from climate sceptic Christopher Monckton

House of Lords steps up efforts to make Christopher Monckton stop claiming he is a member of the upper house
1.41pm Lords reform

Lords reform: can turkeys be persuaded to vote for Christmas?

Peter Facey: There is cross-party consensus on an elected second chamber – but the coalition will need to steel itself for Lords opposition
1.10pm Unemployment and employment statistics

Unemployment benefit claimants constituency by constituency: full data

Unemployment is going down - these are the unemployment benefit claimant numbers in each of the parliamentary constituencies. Get them where you live
1.01pm Liberal-Conservative coalition

Playground plans shelved under government spending cuts

Coalition makes cuts to £235m Playbuilder scheme intended to create 3,500 community playgrounds across England
1.00pm Trade unions

Jimmy Reid: a true radical giant

Gregor Gall: Jimmy Reid's charisma, political skill and imagination in forging alliances are desperately needed in the struggles we face today
12.54pm Media

Obama seals off US journalists and authors from Britain's libel laws

President Obama yesterday signed into US law legislation aimed at protecting American authors, journalists and academics from Britain's libel laws
12.25pm Media

Jimmy Reid: 'a rat race is for rats'

Clyde shipyard leader was also a fine orator and journalist
12.22pm Media

Every BBC freedom of information request made - and what happened to it

FoI requests cost the BBC millions. Get the full list of every request and the outcome
12.11pm Tony Blair

High security for Tony Blair book signing

Paul Owen: Fans wanting a signed copy of former PM's memoir A Journey must comply with a number of strict conditions – and personal dedications are out
11.43am Law

Ken Clarke's enthusiasm for cuts in the justice system comes at a high price

The lord chancellor should be sticking up for his department. Our courts lie at the very heart of our democracy
11.27am Climate change

Global warming: Our survey of MPs shows worrying apathy

Only 11% of MPs responded to our email, but they have to respond to you so help us out by chasing them for their views on climate change
11.25am Climate change

Poll: Tell us your MP's views on climate change

Competition
Ask your local MP for their views on global warming and help us paint a national political picture
11.22am Trade unions

Jimmy Reid, saviour of Clyde shipyards, dies aged 78

'Commanding figure of great humanity' led work-in that forced Tory government to keep Upper Clyde Shipbuilders open
11.14am Pakistan

Gordon Brown makes aid appeal for Pakistan flood victims

Former prime minister believes Britain is full of compassionate people but says more donations are urgently needed
11.10am Iraq war inquiry

Chilcot inquiry wants evidence from Iraq war veterans

Sir John Chilcot wants soldiers – past and present – to have 'their voices heard' on how campaign was run
11.00am English Defence League

Stop EDL's Bradford march of hate

Marsha Singh: If the Conservatives are serious about localism they must heed the petition of the people of Bradford and ban this racist march
10.35am Politics

David Cameron and the tabloid press – when it comes to the working class, do they get it?

Michael White: There is more than a dash of sentimentality to the tabloids' treatment of their readers and the prime minister's plans for cuts
10.22am Politics

Chris Huhne and Lady Warsi press conference attacking Labour – live

Andrew Sparrow with minute-by-minute coverage of the first party-political press conference held by the coalition
10.00am Oil

Peak oil is the villain governments need

Graham Wayne: Using the threat of a high oil prices is a sell the public will buy into – unlike intangible arguments over climate change
9.14am Economics

Economic recovery at risk?

The pound fell today after the Bank of England cut its growth forecast and predicted higher inflation, while the number of people claiming unemployment benefit fell by less than expected. Richard Wray brings you the latest news, views and reaction
8.54am Abdelbaset al-Megrahi

Washington asks for Lockerbie bomber's medical records

Senators holding inquiry want Scottish government to hand over advice that led to release of Abdelbaset al-Megrahi
8.01am Kashmir

India's blinkered policy on Kashmir

Simon Tisdall: India and Pakistan's failure to resolve Kashmir could see a huge escalation of violence, and derail an Afghan settlement
8.00am Society

How will lone parents cope with having to find a job when their children reach school age?

Single parents are to be compelled to seek work once their youngest child turns five, or face losing benefits. We ask families how they will cope.
7.05am Unemployment and employment statistics

Youth unemployment rising in most regions, TUC study shows

Number of 18-24 year olds on the dole for more than six months increased in 142 local authorities in the year to June
7.04am Recession

Jobs worries and inflation fears send confidence plunging, says Nationwide

Nationwide consumer index shows people more cautious about jobs, the housing market and their earnings
7.01am Health policy

How Finland could improve our health

Jenni Viitanen: Britain's health inequality is the worst in Europe. Let's look at how Finland turned things around in the 1970s
12.42am Washington DC

Washington thinktank says US right could learn from Cameron and Clegg

Cato Institute says Britain's coalition government has brought together the best traditions of British liberalism
12.14am Politics

Diary

Stephen Bates: Behold the miracle of Kampala. It's amazing what a little largesse from Wall Street can do
12.05am Private schools

A penalty, not a perk

Letters: Had I not been serving overseas we wouldn't have dreamed of sending our three children to boarding school
12.05am Public services policy

Backward steps for the 'big society'

Letters: The prime minister's many statements on the issue could be considered either worryingly uneducated about the nature of civil society, or recklessly ideological
12.05am Vince Cable

Vince Cable's power and principles

Letters: Though I hate much of what the coalition is doing I shall continue to support the Lib Dems. The more the party retains electoral support, the more it can stand up to the Tories
12.05am Work & careers

Defending jobs and services must be our current priority

Response: The fight against a world dominated by work cannot begin during an economic crisis, says Candy Udwin
12.01am Liberal-Conservative coalition

Spending cuts: first blood

Editorial: The coalition is putting the cart before the horse by brokering department cuts before deciding what needs to be done
12.01am Vince Cable

Vince Cable runs smallest ministerial office, league table claims

Business secretary has half the staff of Caroline Spelman at Defra and a third of the staff of foreign secretary William Hague
12.01am Pubs

In praise of ... community pubs

Editorial: A fund to help communities buy their local pubs has been axed. Why? Not cost, and nor can it be through lack of demand
12.01am Health policy

Ben Jennings on the health of the government

Cartoon
In the latest instalment of the Guardian's showcase of new cartoonists, Ben Jennings comments on the health of the current government

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