A leader of a think tank says the effect of bank holidays on the UK economy is a system of checks and balances.

One analyst thinks the Barclays chief executive has put in a less than sparkling corporate performance.

Lower pay will not be forced on public sector workers in the regions, it was confirmed. The UK government would not do this, said Liberal Democrat cabinet minister Vince Cable who was in Cardiff on Wednesday. Mr Cable was campaigning on behalf of his party for next month’s local council elections.

The news that over 2,000 jobs are now secured in the defence industry has been applauded.

Latest government figures show almost half a million children regularly skipped schools in England over the past year. There was a small rise in the number of pupils not attending school without permission, but a drop in overall absence rates.

Teachers went on a one-day strike today (Wednesday) in protest at cuts to teachers’ and lecturers’ pensions.

Paul Kenny, general secretary of the GMB union, condemned a report written by a Conservative Party donor which urged that unproductive workers should lose their right to claim unfair dismissal.

A report by England’s children’s commissioner says some schools in England are illegally excluding pupils.

TUC general secretary Brendan Barber commented about there being no minimum wage rise for workers aged under 21: “It is wrong to deny young people an increase this year, as there is no evidence