Budget 2009

Britain's new age of austerity

Huge tax rises and spending cuts: the true cost of the Budget revealed.

Face it: Portrait painting is cool again

The popularity of the BP Portrait Award reflects a new and arguably democratic interest in portraiture. But can work of this kind really explore and express life's complexities? Michael Glover challenges the conventions of an idealised form.

More Arts Articles

Martyrs of the Iraqi marshes

They survived Saddam, but now the marsh Arabs are losing a battle against nature, reports Patrick Cockburn, winner of the Orwell Prize for journalism 2009.

Cockburn wins top journalism award

The new policy takes much of the heat out of what for two years has been the thorniest environmental problem in British politics: whether or not to let a new generation of coal-fired power stations go ahead

Clean coal is future for energy supplies

Greenhouse gas emissions from new power stations will be collected and permanently stored underground.

Pakistan scrambles to repel Taliban advance

Swat Valley peace deal blamed as government forces come under fire from insurgents 60 miles from capital

Leading article: The advance of the Taliban is a threat to the Pakistani state

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Gordon Brown may be forced to withdraw the attendance payment scheme

Now Labour MPs revolt over reforms to expenses

Prime Minister's plans in crisis as protests grow over 'clocking in' payments

President and ex-bishop hit by three paternity suits

More mothers may be waiting in the wings as saga stuns Paraguayans

How The Independent highlighted the growing dangers of gambling in football on 6 March

Betting scam is 'just the tip of a match-fixing iceberg'

Exclusive: FA 'powerless' in landmark investigation - despite CCTV evidence of players' wagers.

UK recession to last at least another year, warns banking chief

Manufacturers facing the worst climate for 30 years, CBI adds

Scientists and ethicists unite to attack doctor's clone plan

Steve Connor: Lord Winston leads condemnation of claims by fertility expert Panayiotis Zavos

Audrey Tautou is an international ambassador for French style

Do their derrières look big? Battle of the bulge is all in the French mind

The typical French woman is slim and thinks that she is fat. The typical British woman is plump but is convinced that she is thin.

Go-ahead for carbon-capture power stations

Four new coal-fired plants could be built before 2020, but they must be fitted with technology to trap CO2.

Revealed: The rubbish put out for recycling that ends up in landfill sites

British films battle for Palme D'Or (thanks to taxpayers)

Three British films are vying for the Cannes Film Festival's prized Palme D'Or in a remarkable comeback for home-grown cinema after an absence of British movies in the line-up last year.

Catwalk king brings madness to the shop floor

He is known for clothing the likes of Sienna Miller in his fluttery, feminine dresses and for having Prince play an impromptu set at one of his catwalk shows.