Labour say Lord Ashcroft will be celebrating ‘payback time’ now that ministers have approved the construction of an airport on St Helena. Photograph: Rex Features The government faced accusations todayof improper use of aid funds after ministers approved the construction of an airport... 

General Sir ­Richard Dannatt said he only heard of the UK’s lead role in Helmand when Blair announced it at a 2004 summit. Photograph: Dylan Martinez/Reuters Tony Blair bounced military commanders into deploying large numbers of British troops to Afghanistan while they were facing a growing... 

Actor Honor Blackman with protesters from the Equitable Members Action Group outside parliament last year in a demonstration against the lack of compensation for policyholders. Photograph: Andy Rain/EPA Victims of the Equitable Life scandal reacted with fury todayafter a government report suggested... 

Lady Warsi was pelted with eggs when visiting Luton last November. Photograph: Linda Nylind for the Guardian A 23-year-old man found guilty of throwing eggs at a Tory peer was jailed for six weeks today. Lady Warsi, now co-chairman of the Conservative party, was visiting Luton last November... 

Richard Donnell, director of research at Hometrack, said house prices would fall further. Photograph: Graeme Robertson for the Guardian There is further evidence that the housing recovery is running out of steam in a survey published today showing that prices dipped during July, the first decline... 

Leo Hickman on one of London’s cycle-hire bikes. Photograph: Graeme Robertson for the Guardian 7.08am: Occasional cyclist and the Guardian’s London blogger Dave Hill tried out a bike in Whitechapel. He found the appearance of the bikes “over Barclayed” but otherwise...