Protesters across Europe demand end to austerity
Police and protesters clashed in Spain, Italy and Portugal as millions of workers went on strike to challenge to austerity policies.
An important day, and not just because of the strikes
As well as strikes across Europe, today has also produced figures that may convince people at the top that austerity is self-defeating.
Wonder girl
David Cameron has promised to investigate the closure of a centre that has helped thousands of people overcome their disabilities.
Live updates
'Bedroom tax' protesters take to Trafalgar Square
Hundreds of people have staged a protest in Trafalgar Square against the so-called bedroom tax.
Protester explains why he thinks 'bedroom tax' is unfair
Thousands of protesters today called for the Government to axe the so-called "bedroom tax".
They are angry about changes to housing benefit which will see cuts for people with a spare room.
Protester organiser in Kidderminster Brian Ryder explains why he thinks the tax is unfair.
Advertisement
Hundreds protest 'bedroom tax' in Manchester
Hundreds of protestors have been in Manchester to demonstrate against the government's so- called Bedroom Tax. The measures will cut the amount of money social housing tenants get for living in properties classed as having spare bedrooms.
'Thousands' protest against 'bedroom tax' in Glasgow
'Bedroom tax' protestors gather in Exeter
'Bedroom Tax' protests expected around Britain
A series of protests are due to take place across the country today against plans to cut benefits for social housing tenants who are considered to be living in a house which is too big for their needs.
Under the Government plans, social housing tenants deemed to have a spare bedroom stand to have their housing benefit cut from next month.
Protests against the so-called 'Bedroom Tax' are expected to take in 53 towns and cities including London, Manchester, Birmingham, Belfast and Glasgow.
Advertisement
Defence Secretary will 'resist cuts to armed forces'
Defence Secretary Philip Hammond has warned he will resist further cuts to the armed forces in Chancellor George Osborne's forthcoming spending review.
After No 10 warned publicly last month that the military would not be immune from further financial retrenchment, Mr Hammond made clear that he would resist anything more than modest "efficiency savings".
In an interview with The Daily Telegraph, he said other Conservative Cabinet ministers believed that the greatest burden of any cuts should fall on the welfare budget.
TUC outlines priorities for 2013
New chief Frances O'Grady has outlined the TUC's three top priorities for the year ahead, reports the Mirror;
- Urge the government to abandon the austerity measures and cuts and put investment in jobs and growth first.
- Create a long-term vision for the economy with a new industrial policy and forge a laser-like focus on the need to create decent jobs and apprenticeships.
- Build a fair society – with the poorest paid the Living Wage, more done to stop tax avoidance and evasion, and workers’ given a say on bosses’ pay.
O'Grady calls for 'real change' in economy
– New TUC chief Frances O'GradyThis all adds up a very different approach to the economy and a challenge to all the political parties, employers and indeed unions.
My strong belief is that when we look back at the period from the 1980s to the 2008 crash, historians will see these as exceptional times, as damaging in their way as the 1930s.
What will dismay them most is how slowly we are building a new economic model to replace the one that fell with Lehman Brothers. There is surprisingly broad consensus that we need real change.
Government urged to abandon austerity drive
New TUC chief Frances O'Grady, has urged the Government to change course and abandon its austerity programme, while promoting a new industrial policy.
The country needs a "laser-like" focus on creating decent jobs and apprenticeships, especially in parts of the country that need them most, she said.
Workers should be given a say over top pay through employee representation on remuneration committees and there should be a debate about economic democracy, or "worker voice".