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19 July 2013 Last updated at 07:30 ET Mr Blair is now a special envoy to the Middle East Tony Blair has rejected suggestions by David Cameron that he “lobbies” the prime minister about the Middle East. The former UK PM was responding to comments by Mr Cameron during an interview about the influence of Tory election guru Lynton Crosby ...

18 July 2013 Last updated at 21:51 ET The London Olympic Games took place in July and August last year The UK economy has seen a £9.9bn boost in trade and investment from hosting the 2012 London Olympic and Paralympic Games, research suggests. A report for the government and Mayor of London attributes new contracts, additional sales and foreign investment ...

18 July 2013 Last updated at 11:59 ET By Gary O’Donoghue Chief political correspondent, BBC Radio 4 David Ward apologised after comments he made in January Lib Dem MP David Ward has had the party whip withdrawn over comments he made about Israel. He posted a tweet at the weekend calling the country an “apartheid state” and saying that “Zionists” ...

17 July 2013 Last updated at 20:28 ET By Nick Triggle Health correspondent, BBC News The cap on care costs in England is due to be introduced in 2016 The £72,000 cap on elderly care costs in England, due to be introduced in 2016, will benefit one in eight people, the government has said. The revelation came as the government ...

17 July 2013 Last updated at 00:16 ET Mr Hunt said there was a “clear dividing line” in Mr Crosby’s role for the party Conservative Party election strategist Lynton Crosby had no influence on the decision to delay the introduction of plain cigarette packets in England and Wales, the health secretary has said. Jeremy Hunt told the BBC ministers do ...

17 July 2013 Last updated at 04:37 ET UK unemployment fell by 57,000 to 2.51 million in the three months to May, the Office for National Statistics says. The unemployment rate held steady at 7.8%. The ONS also said that the number of people claiming Jobseeker’s Allowance last month fell by 21,200 to 1.48 million. BBC News – Politics

16 July 2013 Last updated at 16:39 ET Gay couples are expected to be able to marry next year The bill allowing same-sex couples to marry in England and Wales has passed its final hurdle in Parliament. The government legislation is now due to get royal assent, after which it is likely to become law later this week. The Conservative, ...

15 July 2013 Last updated at 22:27 ET The UK has had a continuous at-sea nuclear deterrent for more than 40 years The findings of a review set up to help the coalition resolve its differences over replacing the UK’s Trident nuclear deterrent are due to be published. The Liberal Democrats favour cutting the number of Vanguard missile-carrying submarines, but ...

15 July 2013 Last updated at 12:57 ET Gay couples will be able to marry next year, if the bill passes into law Same-sex marriage in England and Wales is a step closer to becoming law after the House of Lords approved the change. Peers backed a government bill paving the way for gay couples to marry. It is set ...

14 July 2013 Last updated at 19:00 ET About 40,000 households will be affected initially Continue reading the main story Disability benefits and you Six major changes Q&A: Universal credit Changes to housing benefits A cap on the total amount of benefits that people aged 16 to 64 can receive has begun rolling out across England, Scotland and Wales. Couples ...