£3.2bn increase in funding for local councils

The Government says that it will stick to its three-year spending plans agreed in 2007 to allocate town halls £76 billion

UKIP hunter-in-chief goes for Tory jugular

Lord Pearson of Rannoch says he wants to defend Britishness and act as the conscience of the Conservative party he quit

Former MP cleared over bar row

Helen Clark was told that her behaviour in a hotel bar in Peterborough in 2008 had been ‘shameful’ but was not criminal

Iraq invasion lacked legitimacy, inquiry told

Sir Jeremy Greenstock threatened to resign if Tony Blair gave in to US pressure, the former ambassador tells Chilcot hearing

Uganda proposes death penalty for HIV positive gays

A law that would mean those convicted of gay sex being jailed or even executed has brought protests from Britain and Canada

Downing Street outmanoeuvred in Brussels

The City could face more regulation after France took the internal market and financial services job in the EU Commission

Social workers get national voice to aid recovery after Baby P scandal

Social workers have complained that a profusion of professional bodies is supposed to represent them, none very effectively

Inquiry into NHS deaths after scandals

Health Secretary announces investigation to uncover the true extent of death rates across the NHS after scandals at two trusts

Tsvangirai welcomes possible Commonwealth return

The country’s Prime Minister said he was ‘committed to seeing Zimbabwe being welcomed back into the family of nations’

Conservatives to strengthen powers over police

Shadow Home Secretary says Tories will abolish London police authority and bolster Mayor's powers over the Met

World shares recover from fears of Dubai crisis

Wall Street stocks had fallen more than 200 points in early trading but have since recovered some ground

Brown attempts to calm panic over Dubai crisis

Prime Minister claims situation is 'containable' in an effort to address fears Emirate's debt problem could spread

UN ambassador threatened to quit over Iraq war

Sir Jeremy Greenstock tells official inquiry that Iraq was probably legal but UK and US failed to establish its legitimacy

Blair 'signed in blood' to oust Saddam

Former diplomat says plan to aim for 'regime change' may have stemmed from meeting between Bush and Blair in April 2002

Schools cut back on heating to save £750m

Schools Secretary wants to cut school bills by encouraging astute purchasing decisions and installing 'smart' energy meters

‘Shallow’ Dave dips his toes in the deep end

Phillip Blond, the head of the new think-tank Respublica, is revealed as the new darling of the Conservative leader

Dementia research 'looted' to fund Brown pledge

The Prime Minister has been accused of taking research money to fund his election promise of free home care for the elderly

Conservatives propose energy-efficiency loans

Shadow Housing Minister announces plan to offer lending for retrofit of homes but green charities want more detail

Sri Lanka's summit bid snubbed by Brown

The Prime Minister is against the country hosting Commonwealth leaders in 2011 because of campaign against the Tamil Tigers

Cameron on defensive over schools error

Tory leader accused of 'divisive smears' after making false statement over funding of the Islamic Shakhsiyah Foundation