David Cameron speaking at a press conference during his first visit to the White House as prime minister. Photograph: Reuters Britain could start withdrawing troops from Afghanistan as early as next year, depending on conditions there, David Cameron said today, following his first meeting with... 

Owen Paterson: ‘You cannot have any meaningful talks with people who are not committed to peaceful means. They are not listening.’ Photograph: Paul Faith/PA Owen Paterson, the Northern Ireland secretary, ruled out talks with dissident republicans today amid fears of a heightening... 

This video image shows Bank of England governor Mervyn King speaking in London, where he warned of ‘a choppy recovery’ for the British economy. Photograph: AP Politicians and pundits who confidently predict the likelihood of a double-dip recession are bluffing. No one knows for... 

2010 budget: ‘Some of the IFS’s conclusions and the reporting of them were misleading and inaccurate’. Photograph: Peter Macdiarmid/Getty Images Labour politicians seized on an Institute for Fiscal Studies report last month which described the emergency budget as “clearly... 

Kingsnorth coal-fired power station in Kent. Photograph: Carl Court/Rex Features Is the coalition government now demoting the environment in light of its spending cuts? After a string of headlines over the past few days, it would appear so. First we learned that the 40% cuts being earmarked...