This year alone, high youth unemployment will cost government £4.8bn in lost tax revenues and unemployment benefits, more than the budget for further education for 16 to 19 year-olds, and cost the economy £10.7bn in lost output, the report said. The National Institute of Economic and Social Research (NIESR), which contributed to the report, said

One in ten local authorities is defying the Government and planning to increase council tax, The Daily Telegraph can disclose.

EU remains determined to include all airlines that take off or land in the 27-member bloc in the green scheme

President Obama has trumpeted the temporary payroll tax cut as his major victory for middle class Americans. Unfortunately, he isn't telling you about the massive screwing over homeowners are getting to pay for a few hundred dollars in savings. Hidden in the bill that the president signed that came down from the Senate is a provision that adds a minimum monthly fee of one tenth of one percent...

...here are some posts made on Spectator.co.uk over the weekend: Fraser Nelson says the richest 1 per cent pay 28 per cent of the UK's income tax, so let's not scare them away. James Forsyth says Lords reform is going to dominate the next parliamentary session, but the government will have a tough time passing it. Jonathan Jones reports on two attacks on David Miliband, and finds that pu...

Beijing’s ban on Chinese airlines complying with a European Union charge on carbon emissions, escalates a dispute that risks becoming a trade war

Benefits are not an easy subject to get your head around: we have a benefits system with enough acronyms, assessments, taper rates and tax credits to make your head spin. That’s why this Government is finally undertaking a hugely important and long-overdue reform of benefits. Universal Credit will replace the complicated mix of tax credits,

Democratic and Republican negotiators will hold talks on a $160bn package of stimulus measures that were the subject of a fierce fight in December

Here’s a round-up of stories we haven’t had time to cover on the site this past week… John Leech tables Commons motion calling for Alan Turing pardon (BBC) Manchester Withington’s John Leech submitted the Early Day Motion and said people should sign an online petition protesting against Turing’s conviction. The gay computer pioneer was convicted

The Camerons face the inevitable in the latest episode of our Westminster sitcom, by Iain Hollingshead.