BB FANS

By Nigel Nelson Mirror
Crime prevention funding slashed by 60 per cent

New figures obtained under freedom of information laws show community safety funding has been cut from nearly £58million in 2010 to £23million now

By Tom McTague Mirror
The Sunday Times Rich List: Nine out of 10 top political donors give to Tories

The biggest Tory donor was upmarket metal dealer Michael Farmer, who gave them £1.3million

Scientists attack government climbdown on marine protection
Academics warn government it could be condemning marine environment to 'years of overexploitation and degradation'
Damian Carrington www.guardian.co.uk

Downing Street Insists Cabinet Not Split On Economy, Defends Cabinet Secretary's Comments www.huffingtonpost.co.uk

EU crime opt-outs 'could damage UK crime fighting' BBC

Abu Qatada: Government appeal bid rejected BBC

Revealed: George Osborne’s secret veto on fraud inquiries
Chancellor writes SFO cheques - so is there a conflict of interest?

Under a government agreement the Serious Fraud Office must get permission from the Treasury to launch any complex new inquiry which comes on top of its normal budget.
George Osborne has a secret veto over large and potentially politically sensitive fraud investigations, The Independent has learnt.
But controversially the Treasury can keep its decisions secret – potentially allowing it to veto politically sensitive fraud inquiries, either before or midway through an investigation, without public scrutiny. www.independent.co.uk

The UK economy has avoided falling back into a recession after recording faster-than-expected growth in the first three months of the year. BBC

Ed Miliband lays down living wage challenge
As election looms, Labour promises tax breaks for firms that offer living wage

Patrick Wintour www.guardian.co.uk

Want to boost the economy? Ban all meetings
David Cameron has had the cabinet table extended so more spads can fit around it. Wave goodbye to productivity at No 10

Marina Hyde www.guardian.co.uk

Wealthy elderly people who do not need benefits to help with fuel bills, TV licences or free travel should return the money, the work and pensions secretary says. BBC

Coalition could break pledge on ring-fencing aid and health budgets, PM suggests
The Coalition could dip into the foreign aid and health budgets, David Cameron has suggested, despite a key pledge to "ring-fence" the departments from cuts. www.telegraph.co.uk

'It's time for Cameron to stop pussyfooting around': PM rival Adam Afriyie calls for two per cent tax on immigrants and mass deportation in incendiary manifesto
Proposes mandatory health insurance for all temporary visitors to UK
Non-British citizens working in the UK should pay a tax supplement
We must reject the idea of pan-European citizenship
By ADAM AFRIYIE Mail

SEAN O'GRADY www.independent.co.uk

Keynes might have had time for the Osborne plan
The target of Niall Ferguson's attack has also been traduced by economic convervatives

Lord Lawson calls for UK to exit EU BBC