Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Sunday 31 Mar 2013

1. TORY KNIVES OUT FOR GEORGE OSBORNE

Senior Tories are blaming George Osborne for the party's poor opinion poll ratings and questioning his competence and judgement. A high-ranking party figure tells the Sunday Telegraph: “George is the problem.” There is a growing concern that Osborne does not understand the middle classes and that the party will flop in May's local elections. One MP says: “George must go.”

2. ROYAL MARINES PATROL BOAT RACE

Royal Marines will patrol the River Thames in inflatable boats today to prevent a repeat of last year's disruption to the Oxford v Cambridge boat race. During the 2012 race, protestor Trenton Oldfield swam into the paths of the boats. Oxford are clear favourites to win this afternoon's meeting, with William Hill saying more than 70% of bets have been placed on the Dark Blues.

3. 900,000 DROP SICKNESS BENEFIT CLAIM

Nearly 900,000 people have chosen to drop their claim for incapacity benefit rather than undergo a tough new medical tests, says the government. Conservative Party chairman Grant Shapps tells the Sunday Telegraph the old sickness benefits system was “evil” and used by Labour to “hide the unemployed”.

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4. DID YOU PUT YOUR CLOCKS FORWARD?

Clocks should have moved one hour forward at 1am this morning, as the UK entered British Summer Time giving us more daylight in evenings. Daylight Saving Time will remain with us until October 27. London's Big Ben was switched off for five hours leading up to the 1am change.

5. MITCHELL COMPLAINS TO IPCC

Former chief whip Andrew Mitchell has sent a complaint to the Independent Police Complaints Commission, claiming officers launched a "dishonest and illicit attempt to blacken my name and destroy my career". Mitchell has also announced he is to sue the Sun newspaper over its reporting of the 'plebgate' allegations.

6. SHAKESPEARE 'WAS TAX DODGER'

William Shakespeare was a tax dodger who illegally stockpiled food to sell at inflated prices during times of famine, reports the Sunday Times. The bard was even threatened with jail for tax avoidance. “[He] is remembered as a playwright, but there was no copyright then and no sense that his plays could generate future income,” says a researcher from Aberystwyth University.

7. DOG CONTROL POWER AXED DESPITE DEATH

The government has been accused of watering down proposals to control dangerous dogs despite a recent fatal attack on a teenage girl in Greater Manchester. Dog control orders will be axed and replaced with a general order covering all anti-social behaviour including litter and drug use. A committee of MPs says the reform will make dog control less of a priority.

8. BEDROOM TAX 'A COSTLY MISTAKE'

The 'bedroom tax' will be a costly disaster that will push up Britain's benefits bill sparking social disruption and misery, says an independent housing body . The chief executive of the National Housing Association said: "The bedroom tax is one of these once-in-a-generation decisions that is wrong in every respect.” The measure comes into force this week.

9. HOTELS CALL TIME ON MINIBARS

The hotel minibar faces extinction as the industry calls time on the facility. Hilton, Starwood and Marriott are among the chains axing minibars, which they feel are too time-consuming and costly to police. Hotels will encourage guests to use room service, visit the hotel bar or use vending machines. The first minibar appeared in the 1960s, before Hilton sent them global in the 1970s.

10. SUNDERLAND SACK MARTIN O'NEILL

Sunderland sacked manager Martin O'Neill following yesterday's 1-0 defeat by Manchester United. The struggling Black Cats are without a win in eight matches. Manchester City beat Newcastle to strengthen their grip on second place, while Chelsea's hopes for a Champions League place were hit by a 2-1 defeat at Southampton.