The BBC reports: The UK’s statistics watchdog has rebuked a minister over his handling of controversial figures on benefits claimed by immigrants. Sir Michael Scholar, head of the UK Statistics Authority, has written to Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith, questioning the way he released the figures almost week ago. He highlighted that the

Caroline Flint MP, Labour’s Shadow Energy and Climate Change Secretary, responding to SSE's sales guarantee, said:

The Alzheimer's Society has confirmed that people with dementia in Hampshire are being short changed out of £2,293,300 and must be better protected. The charity estimates that up to 2,698 (15 per cent) of people with dementia in Hampshire have been victims of financial abuse such as cold calling, scam mail, or mis-selling. Its new report 'Short changed: Protecting people with demen...

Two interesting views on the appointment of Philip Hammond to succeed resigned Defence Secretary Liam Fox. The Guardian blog notes that Chancellor George Osborne has used the reshuffle surrounding Hammond's move very effectively to his own advantage, and suggests it's a further play in an undecalred leadership campaign against Boris Johnson. The Tory Reform Group's Egremont blog, meanwhile, slams ...

Taxman accused of ‘cover-up’ over Goldman’s bill Britain’s most senior taxman will be asked by MPs to reveal information about tax settlements with Goldman Sachs and Vodafone – or face accusations that he is mis-using confidentiality rules to “cover up his own mistakes”. So they’re going to haul Dave Harnett up before the committee and

Energy Secretary Chris Huhne admits he sent an instantly notorious tweet by mistake, but says he is not embarrassed.

With the Boundary Commission for England set to publish its provisional proposals for England's Parliamentary constituencies next week, expect plenty of talk about how the process will then work with the initial consultation period, the public hearings and then the post-Christmas period for further written submissions. However, on past form there is likely to be quite a lot of mistakes or mis...

US Federal Housing Finance Agency alleges the financial groups mis-sold almost $200bn of mortgage-backed securities and demands compensation

A 76-year-old MP says even his most "superficial, unattractive, mis-shapen" colleagues seem to be irresistible - but warns them not to be seduced.

He told The Daily Telegraph: “For reasons that are inexplicable, MPs – even the most superficial, unattractive, mis-shapen ones – are attractive to the other sex.” Called “alpha”. Those with power have it, those who are thought to have power have it, those who don’t, don’t. Generally, but not exclusively, associated with men: alpha males