Boris Johnson's new administration in London is in crisis after he was forced to set up an independent inquiry into allegations of sexual harassment and financial irregularities against one of his deputies.

MPs defied public outcry last night and threw out attempts to curb their generous second home allowances and rejected calls for tough new external audits on their claims.

Gordon Brown has turned to key allies of Tony Blair, including his former communications director Alastair Campbell, for advice on how to plot a fightback against the Conservatives.

MPs today bowed to Government demands for restraint and awarded themselves a 2.25 per cent pay rise for this year.

The London mayor Boris Johnson announced today he will launch an independent inquiry into allegations of sexual misconduct against deputy mayor Ray Lewis.

The current oil shock provides the world with a "once-in-a-generation opportunity" to kick its dependence on fossil fuels, Prime Minister Gordon Brown told MPs today.

Gordon Brown now leads the most unpopular Labour government in history, according to a new "poll of polls" for The Independent.

David Cameron must wonder what he walked into last night. The Conservative leader made a whistle-stop visit to Haltemprice and Howden, eight days ahead of the by-election called following the resignation of his former shadow home secretary, David Davis.

Peter Hain said he hoped to see his name cleared "as quickly as possible" today after police handed prosecutors the results of their investigation into his Labour Party deputy leadership campaign.