Why 'autistic' jibe was lost in translation

Spokesman for Pierre Lellouche says he 'bitterly regrets' comments but blames his interviewer's poor grasp of French

High rents ‘pose threat’ to gas storage

Project to convert North Sea gasfield and double UK's storage held hostage to Crown Estate's exorbitant rates, buyer says

Former MEP facing jail for £30,000 expenses fraud

Tom Wise admitted spending his secretarial expenses allowance on a new car and fine wines while with Ukip

Tories to give head teachers greater powers

Schools will be able to exclude children and higher standards will be expected from trainee teachers, says Michael Gove

Scientists demand guarantees after drugs sacking

In a letter to No 10 after Nutt affair scientists challenged Government not to sack advisers who disagree with policy

Potential judges can keep Freemasonry secret

Jack Straw reverses the policy that he introduced in 1998 after a human rights ruling and the threat of legal action

'We cannot, must not and will not walk away'

The Prime Minister will try to shore up flagging public support in a speech insisting that the Afghanistan campaign can be won

Tony Blair to explain sacking of Lord Irvine

Former Prime Minister has been contacted by the Lords Constitutional Committee to explain sacking of Lord Chancellor in 2003

Lessons face legal challenge

Faith groups react with anger to proposals by Ed Balls to force all pupils to learn about sex before they are 16

Belgian Prime Minister leads EU presidency race

Herman Van Rompuy is at the head of the pack by virtue of being the contender with the fewest enemies and the least experience

Sarkozy warns Cameron on stance over Europe

France and Poland tell Conservatives the Lisbon treaty will not be renegotiated as William Hague says the policy stands

MPs’ wives dig in heels over work ban

Spouses threatening to go to High Court are told that rule imposed by Sir Christopher Kelly would probably be unlawful

BNP could come third in Glasgow North East

Mainstream parties increasingly worried that far-right is on the threshold of a political breakthrough in Scotland

Salmond singing in the economic gloom

First Minister is the Gene Kelly of Holyrood, dancing around the oppositiion as they try to blame him for Scotland's woes

Minister - I regret 'autistic' attack on Tories

Pierre Lellouche says using word in attack on Tory Euroscepticism was clumsy, but stands by thrust of his attack

COMMENTARY: a fuse lit by Cameron in 2005

In a bid to win the Tory leadership election Cameron promised to leave the EPP group of the European Parliament

ANALYSIS: does Lellouche speak for Sarko?

Pierre Lellouche merely expressed in undiplomatic language the well-known and widespread dismay over Tory policies

Tories stung by autism gibe and resignations

Two Eurosceptic Conservative MEPs quit from front bench as French minister makes an outspoken attack against Tory policy

£30m stripped from free travel budget in London

A plan to halve funding for pensioners’ bus passes in London has been condemned by local authorities in the capital