The 10-year hunting ban may be repealed within 12 months with confident lobbyists claiming they have the numbers to win any open vote at Westminster. David Cameron is under pressure from Tory MPs to honour the party’s election manifesto pledge
Greece has managed to meet its debt repayments for this month – but only just. The financially-stricken nation has managed to find some fiscal breathing space but in a few weeks will be called on to meet further demands from the international
Sports writers say the best story is always in the loser’s changing rooms. That’s where you’ll find the tears, the anguish, the grief and the self-recriminations that follow defeat. In politics it’s the same and what better place to look
Members of the political right are evil. Not only do they eat babies, steal from OAPs and reek of sulphur, the right has the hide to steal elections from people with a mandate on fairness and righteousness in the conduct of
It’s all a conspiracy. The royal birth, that is. According to Russian media a host of theories can be used to explain the speed with which the Duchess of Cambridge gave birth before appearing again in public. ‘If she really
Italian coast guard and navy ships have rescued more than 6,500 people over the weekend as the surge of illegal immigrants crossing the Mediterranean continues. On Saturday, Italian coast guard officials report 3,790 survivors were taken from 17 separate boats in distress
South Yorkshire Police members have nominated themselves for a communications award – even though they failed to stop 1,400 schoolgirls being abused over a 16-year period. The force has been nominated five times for four different campaigns in the UK
The National Trust is doing a pretty good job of trashing its brand. Just as the once hugely admired RSPCA dragged its name into the mud with its ill-advised – and poorly executed – opposition to traditional field sports, so
It’s always dangerous to speculate on the outcome of claims relating to political corruption – civil or criminal. Evidence has to be tested and assertions measured before anyone rushes to judgement. The Guardian is learning that lesson today with the
Just say ‘no’ to illegal immigrants. If that means using military force, so be it. That is the only way the EU can stem the human tide now flooding across the Mediterranean seeking an escape from the failing states of
The Conservatives have ruled out any possibility of a deal with UKIP in the event of a hung Parliament. Tory Cabinet minister Michael Gove has dismissed the notion of a coalition, saying that “we’re not going to get into bed
An increasingly confident Nicola Sturgeon is ready to ‘punish’ Westminster for the perceived failure of Scotland to break away from the Union at last year’s independence vote. She said English politicians who begged Scotland to stay should not complain if the
Counter terrorism police in Australia have alleged that two of the five men they arrested in an operation in the Victoria state capital of Melbourne today were planning an Islamic State-inspired terrorist attack on an Anzac Day ceremony and march
The brother of a singer from 1970s disco group Boney M is helping police with their inquiries into the murder last Tuesday of Syrian-born imam Abdul Hadi Arwani. The suspect, Burnell “Bernie” Mitchell, 61, was raised in a devoutly Christian
Grass cutting season has started in Hertfordshire – but you knew that already, didn’t you. Still, local government being what it is, with its keen respect for rules, regulations and scientific certainty (all within the bounds of health and safety
The UK’s foreign aid budget is set to soar over the next two years thanks to new European Union accounting rules. An extra £1 billion will have to be found to ensure international assistance falls within guide lines due to
The notion that you can never be too rich or too thin is widely credited to Wallis, Duchess of Windsor. Now the French government has taken the contrary view – at least to the second part – and ruled that
There are taxes and then there are Green taxes. The latter are used as punitive levies in successful industrialised countries like the UK so politicians can advertise that they really, really do care about the environment. Trouble is, they care
There is a wonderful predictability about the smug political left. Its members always want you to do as they say – not as they do (controlling the world is what lefties think they do best after all). The Guardian is
The right on, progressive thespian family that votes together stays together. Look no further for proof of this elemental truism of modern luvviedom than the duo of Martin Freeman and Amanda Abbington. They don’t do things by half when it
Questioning the accepted, progressive wisdom of global warming is the smart thing to do. Don’t believe me? Here is the evidence. Republicans with higher levels of education are more likely than those in their parties with less education to say
It was Earth Hour on Saturday. I know, I know, you probably missed it too. All around the world smug weather-worriers dimmed their lights, lit a candle and said a little prayer for the planet as everyone else just got
Well that escalated quickly. There was cricket legend Shane Warne standing centre-pitch at the MCG on Sunday interviewing a few members of the Australian XI that had just won the World Cup with a seven-wicket win over New Zealand. During
Here are two words that should chill you: smart meters. These digital utility meters are designed to provide real-time statistics to energy providers, thus allowing them to monitor consumer usage 24-hours a day – and charge differential rates accordingly. An
So farewell then Jeremy Clarkson. The Top Gear host and much-loved television presenter will not have his BBC contract renewed. The BBC’s director-general Tony Hall issued a statement to media Wednesday afternoon, saying it was “with great regret that I
