The Prime Minister and Chancellor hope to prove that the VAT cut is not just a pre-election sweetener

Brown and Darling slash VAT in £18bn tax gamble

First cut in the tax for 34 years leads Government's measures to stimulate spending.

Sergeant and his partner Kristina Rihanoff during their farewell appearance yesterday

The end of the affair: Last waltz for John Sergeant

An estimated 10 million people tuned in to witness the end of an infatuation.

Strictly con dancing

Is it all over for costume drama?

It's a lavish, star-studded show, but 'Little Dorrit' is losing viewers, says Andrew Johnson.

British militant 'killed by US missile strike in Pakistan'

Man accused of masterminding 2006 airliner plot said to have been the target of attack

The life and death of Rashid Rauf

Ethnic recruitment to police drops by half in five years

As officer's name appears on list of BNP supporters, forces are hit by new claims of discrimination

Hillary plays hardball

The first sign of friction in the Obama camp as Mrs Clinton demands - and gets - a purge of her critics before accepting Secretary of State role

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'Baby P effect' causes sharp rise in care applications

The number of applications for children to be taken into care has increased dramatically as a result of what experts are calling the "Baby P effect".

French Socialists at war after leadership vote

Royal vows to challenge result as Delors' daughter claims victory by just 42 votes in poll of 130,000 members

Arsenal suffered another setback with a loss against Stoke City, which is their third premier league loss this season

Wenger: 'Gallas has future at Arsenal'

Arsène Wenger indicated last night that William Gallas does have a future at Arsenal, after watching his side collapse to a feckless 3-0 defeat at Manchester City which places the League title all but out of reach.

Rescuers rush to Britain's biggest private company

Restructuring specialists are circling Ineos Group, Britain's biggest private company, as the chemicals manufacturer struggles with its €7.3bn (£6.1bn) debt burden.