This morning, the chief executive of RBS Stephen Hester appeared on Radio 4's Today programme to discuss the recent furore over his bonus. Hester revealed he nearly resigned over the crisis and agreed that bankers have been making too much. Here's the full transcript for CoffeeHousers. James Naughtie: Banker without a bonus? You might say he’s a lonely figure in his business; he...

A new report, launched in Brussels on Monday by the Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament, shows that a European financial transaction tax (FTT) would boost growth in Europe by at least 0.25%. It would also raise revenue to combat poverty and climate change at home and abroad, and help re-balance the economy by making long-term investment more worthwhile than short-term, high frequen...

A Plaid Cymru MP leads calls for a new law making stalking a specific offence in England and Wales to stop harassment resulting in violence.

In Europe, a deteriorating youth marginalization is creating the preconditions for a social earthquake capable of shaking the old continent and impairing the survival of the Euro, writes Edoardo Campanella, economic adviser at the Italian Senate. More »

The Guardian reports: Seven hospital trusts struggling with crippling private finance initiative debts are to receive £1.5bn in emergency funding from the government to help them avoid cutting patient services to pay their bills. The Department of Health is making the £1.5bn available – in grants, not loans – to the seven hospital trusts in

On the other hand he might just be an arrogant jerk with an ego complex the size of Texas, who accused the BBC of Nazi tactics because he had lost the argument and was making a fool of himself. Tricky one that.

Earlier this week, LibDemVoice started asking party members signed up to our discussion forum a range of questions — the survey is still live, but one of the questions is already a little previous so we’re reporting it early… We asked: Would you support or oppose David Laws making a return to government at the

Eric Pickles praises the Daily Telegraph's campaign to bring back weekly bin collections.

"And as to neoliberalism laid bare. Yes, the industrial revolution is the only way we humans have found of improving the living standards of the average guy in the street. I, as a liberal (even if neo) would like the living standards of the average guy to increase. Thus I support the industrial revolution. Yes, in all its mess and clamour: for it is making things better. I’m out and I&ac...

He committed no crime and was not disbarred as a director. Many have done worse than him. Yes he's a disgrace, but then so are most of the current shadow cabinet who shared in Capt. Brown streaming on the UK onto the rocks ( though Capt. Brown has disappeared - gone in an early life boat to follow Blair onto the cash making circuit ). This is all backfiring a little on #RedEd, but then he...