By Joe Mellor, Deputy Editor The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) have said that extra direct competition would see greater efficiency, lower fares and better use of rail capacity. They said that rival train firms should run services on the same lines, which would see an end to the franchises on...

By Joe Mellor, Deputy Editor It was described by one peer as a “black day for disabled people” as the Lords was forced to accept cuts to ESA (Employment Support Allowance) given to sick and disabled people, the most vulnerable in society. After a brave fight by the Lords they...

By Joe Mellor, Deputy Editor Jeremy Hunt is not exactly top of the our xmas card lists and as the junior doctors row continues to rumble on; support for the medics seems to be holding, and he looks increasingly under pressure. So maybe is was a good time to win...

By Joe Mellor, Deputy Editor The pentagon has said that a US air strike has killed over 150 al-shabab militants in Somalia. Military spokesman Captain Jeff Davis said the strike hit a training camp where a "large-scale" attack was being planned. Davis said: "We know they were going to be...

By Joe Mellor, Deputy Editor Shocking figures have revealed that women who work for the Tory minister responsible for closing the gender pay gap are paid almost two pounds per hour less than men in the same roles. Government’s figures state that male civil servants earn £22.30 a hour on...

By Joe Mellor, Deputy Editor IS (Islamic State) is waging war against Western lifestyles and is planning “enormous and spectacular attacks on the UK mainland, a counter-terrorism boss has warned. Mark Rowley, Metropolitan Police Assistant Commissioner, said the Islamist group had called on would-be jihadis to attack police and the...

By Joe Mellor, Deputy Editor World Glaucoma Week, which runs 6-12 March 2016. It was set up to help raise awareness of glaucoma, the second most common cause of blindness in the world after cataract and the leading cause of irreversible sight loss. The condition affects 67 million people worldwide,...

By Joe Mellor, Deputy Editor A tiny fraction (97.6 per cent) of senior officials at the Department for Communities & Local Government actually work outside of London. This was the department that the chancellor asked to deliver the “northern powerhouse,” which aims to devolve power to the outlying regions and...

By Joe Mellor, Deputy Editor Around 50 Conservative MPs are planning to rebel against the Chancellor’s plans to relax the Sunday trading laws, which also includes two ministers who may be ready to resign. The Chancellor, George Osborne, is facing another backlash from his party, this time over extending shopping...