Eric Pickles is living in ‘a fantasy world’ when it comes to understanding the scale and impact of the cuts to the voluntary sector caused by the funding crisis hitting local councils.
A crucial schedule in the Public Bodies (Reform) bill has been removed by the House of Lords which means that quangos cannot be abolished at a ministerial whim.
Unite, Britain's biggest union, has welcomed news that Jaguar's new Evoque model will generate investment and jobs.
Unite on reports that under the Health and Social Care bill GP practices could be partially floated on the stock market.
The government's claim to be the "greenest ever" has been dealt a severe blow, as staff in an agency tasked with improving the rural environment have been served with compulsory redundancy notices.
Responding to the government's plans to extend the civil service recruitment freeze indefinitely, PCS general secretary Mark Serwotka said:
How are the cuts affecting you and your family? If you have lost your job, suffered a pay cut or are worried by the loss of public services in your area, then contact South West TUC and tell us your story. Email southwestmedia@tuc.org.uk or call 0117 947 0521 and ask to speak to South West TUC press officers Phil Chamberlain or Susie Weldon.
UCU has called for a greater contribution from business to fund higher education. Speaking at a summit on the future of Scottish universities, UCU Scottish official, Mary Senior argued that last year's business tax cut should be reversed and the funds used for areas which benefit the economy such as higher education.
UNISON welcomes Careers England support
In response to the long-awaited parliamentary announcement from the Minister of Transport, Phillip Hammond, giving the go-ahead to the Intercity Express Programme Northern TUC Regional Secretary, Kevin Rowan said: “The Secretary of State's announcement today is very good news indeed for County Durham and the wider north east economy. The creation of much needed construction jobs now will be a welcome relief in that sector, but the creation of over 500 high quality manufacturing jobs for the long term and around 9,000 jobs in the supply chains is an incredible boost for the people of the area and will breathe a new confidence and optimism into some of the communities hardest hit by the recession and with much to fear from public spending cuts.