Careful with that axe, Tavish

The Lib Dems' new leader may be feisty, but does he have what it takes to reinvigorate the party?

Best of Times, Worst of Times: Sir Christopher Meyer

Sir Christopher Meyer, 64, was Britain’s ambassador to Washington when the World Trade Center was attacked

Briefing: Calling Superman

The case of the seven-year-old forced to speak to a customer services assistant in place of his mother because of ‘data protection’ shows...

Pupils battle the blues in happiness classes

Ministers believe that they can restore the feelgood factor – by teaching children how to look on the bright side of life

Can Labour change to win?

British families desperately need a champion in the way that Barack Obama has shown himself to be a future champion for American families

Maternity units' missing £330m funding

Money pledged by Government to improve poor standards of care for mothers and newborn babies fail to reach maternity units

Development agencies to fund housing scheme

Nine agencies will have to channel £300m from regeneration to help fund the Government's rescue scheme

Harman struggles to shine positive light

Party's deputy leader says 'we need to have a different conversation with the country now' after arrival of recession

British envoy criticised over Swaziland party

Paul Boateng is under fire for attending lavish birthday celebrations for the last remaining absolute monarch in Africa

Labour returns £15,000 after illegal donation

'Serious concern' had been expressed about the donation as charities are banned from financially supporting political parties

Voters are dissatisfied, admits Harman

The party’s deputy leader has given a bleak assessment of the Government’s plight, offering little comfort for Gordon Brown

Coffee-loving MP mistaken for cocaine trafficker

Colombian soldiers forced Tory MP to eat coffee whitener to prove that he was not carrying cocaine

Struggling Brown accused of betrayal

Beleaguered Prime Minister faced torrent of criticism, as Hilary Benn denied ministers 'caved in' over a windfall tax

Lloyd's boss Levene attacks tax 'dithering'

Treasury urged to sharpen up corporate tax regime now or risk seeing a flood of companies depart to lower-cost locations

Britain values unity in Nato over Georgia

Britain must play role of honest broker in negotiations over Georgia's membership application for Nato, says Gordon Brown

London Tube and bus fares rise by 6 per cent

Boris Johnson blamed hike on Ken Livingstone, claiming that he had left him with a black hole in funding of more than £80m

Met bosses discuss Ian Blair's future

Sir Ian Blair insists that he will carry on as Commissioner of Metropolitan Police, despite plans to remove him by Christmas

Breakdowns spark crisis in power supply

National Grid calls for more power from electricity generators after breakdowns left it with an insufficient safety cushion

House prices fall but Bank leaves rates on hold

Despite house prices falling at fastest rate in a quarter of a century, Bank of England decides against interest rate cut

Scots may get more tax-raising powers

Gordon Brown prepared to bow to growing political pressure from Scotland and give Holyrood Parliament increased tax powers