David Cameron at prime minister's questions. Photograph: PA Lord Lamont's observation that his former adviser can occasionally be "quite volatile" will come as little surprise to those on both sides of the house who have endured a David Cameron tongue-lashing.A mere three months after apologising for suggesting that Ed Balls's Commons heckling was akin to "having someone with Tourette's sitting opposite you", the Tory leader on Wednesday labelled the shadow chancellor a "muttering idiot" during PMQs.Picked up by the Speaker for using unparliamentary language, Cameron rephrased his putdown, describing Balls as "the man who left us this enormous deficit".He also had more emollient words for another of his most vocal critics, the veteran Labour MP Dennis Skinner.In January, Cameron suggested that the member for Bolsover ... Continue reading →
David Cameron at prime minister's questions. Photograph: PA Lord Lamont's observation that his former adviser can occasionally be "quite volatile" will come as little surprise to those on both sides of the house who have endured a David Cameron tongue-lashing.A mere three months after apologising for suggesting that Ed Balls's Commons heckling was akin to "having someone with Tourette's sitting opposite you", the Tory leader on Wednesday labelled the shadow chancellor a "muttering idiot" during PMQs.Picked up by the Speaker for using unparliamentary language, Cameron rephrased his putdown, describing Balls as "the man who left us this enormous deficit".He also had more emollient words for another of his most vocal critics, the veteran Labour MP Dennis Skinner.In January, Cameron suggested that the member for Bolsover ... Continue reading →
Leveson inquiry: Jeremy Paxman is to give evidence. Photograph: Geoffrey Swaine/Rex Features Continue reading →
Leveson inquiry: Jeremy Paxman is to give evidence. Photograph: Geoffrey Swaine/Rex Features Continue reading →
Iain Duncan Smith, the work and pensions secretary, will give a flavour of the tough new rules when he addresses an event organised by Alcoholics Anonymous on Wednesday. Photograph: Dave Thompson/PA Unemployed people suspected of suffering from alcoholism or drug addiction will have their benefits cut if they refuse treatment for their condition, the work and pensions secretary, Iain Duncan Smith, will signal on Wednesday.In a sign of the government's new benefits regime, which lies at the heart of Duncan Smith's cost-cutting welfare changes, staff in Jobcentre Plus offices will be encouraged to cut the jobseeker's allowance of claimants who reject treatment for addiction.The new rules will come into place in October 2013 when the universal credit, which is designed to wrap benefits into one ... Continue reading →