The public support Labour’s policy of cutting the deficit more slowly but do not trust the party to implement it, according to a survey for The Independent.

David Cameron tonight denied that he had been forced to back down over his high-profile European treaty veto.

Tories call for 'responsible' decisions on bank bonuses as Labour demands radical change to pay system

According to both the Chancellor of the Exchequer and the Foreign Secretary, the Royal Bank of Scotland chief executive's decision to forgo his near-£1m share bonus was "sensible and welcome". According to the Leader of the Opposition, Stephen Hester has "done the right thing". Wrong, wrong and wrong again.

At no point did Hester consider that he already had enough money and so would forgo his bonus

What is it about bankers' pay that makes the hard-pressed majority feel that finance capitalism is a conspiracy against them? Could it be that, more than three years after the credit crunch of 2008, we feel that the unfair rewards in the sector that caused the crisis continue unabated? Could it be that the rewards now seem even more unfair because we, the taxpayers, put up the security to bail out the banks? Could it be that we feel that politicians, who mouthed slogans about fairness and how they would put an end to excessive pay, have played a cynical game? Could it be that the way banks pay their top people seems designed to confuse us, even when we, the taxpayers, are their shareholders.

The Government is – almost – going full-speed ahead with the introduction of mayors to run our cities. Excuse the qualification, but the Liberal Democrats are still wary, the Communities Secretary, Eric Pickles, has his doubts and he is by no means alone in the Conservative Party. Voters are not always thrilled and referendums on the principle of mayors must be won. Almost full speed does not mean the destination will be reached.

Senior civil servants will meet this week to decide whether ex-Royal Bank of Scotland boss Sir Fred Goodwin should be stripped of his knighthood, David Cameron said today.

David Cameron admitted today he was "disappointed" by figures showing the UK economy shrank in the final quarter of last year.

Tory MPs today dismissed Business Secretary Vince Cable's plans to tackle excessive boardroom pay as "liberal clap-trap" and "drivel", which would harm the country's prospects of economic growth.

Suddenly, all parties think ex-RBS chief Sir Fred Goodwin should be stripped of his honour. Maybe. But why now? And will it really do anything to rein in the bankers? Jane Merrick, Mark Leftly, Matt Chorley and Brian Brady report

Nick Clegg has said he is "sympathetic" to calls for former RBS boss Sir Fred Goodwin to be stripped of his knighthood.

The Prime Minister set out his vision of a "socially responsible and genuinely popular capitalism" today.