1. Osborne drops his raid on pension tax
George Osborne has dropped plans to change the system of tax relief on pensions. The chancellor’s Isa-style scheme would have ended tax relief on contributions, but made pension pot withdrawals tax free. Osborne was due to announce the plans in the Budget this month, but was warned it could prompt a run on savings.
2. BCC chief suspended over Brexit position
The director-general of the British Chambers of Commerce has been suspended for airing his personal views on Brexit, reports the Financial Times. Speaking at the BCC’s annual conference, John Longworth said that the UK's long-term prospects could be "brighter" outside the EU. This contradicted the BCC's official line that it will not campaign for either side before the 23 June referendum.
3. Study: expose babies to peanuts to avoid allergies
Scientists have claimed that introducing babies to peanuts, eggs and other allergy-causing foods at an early age could prevent serious reactions later in life. The Food Standards Agency found that children introduced to peanut and egg-white proteins from three months had a lower chance of developing allergies than those introduced to them at six months old.
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4. Pistorius sends anguished text to reporter
Oscar Pistorius sent a text to a reporter who asked him about going back jail for murdering girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp – blasting: “Have you no soul…?” Paralympian Pistorius, 29, faces 15 years behind bars for murdering Reeva three years ago after his appeal was rejected by South Africa's highest court. He now has no legal avenues left to him now to avoid a lengthy spell behind bars.
5. Minister orders PM to reveal true migration data
David Cameron must disclose figures showing full scale of EU migration, the culture secretary has demanded. John Whittingdale says it is a matter of “great concern” that hundreds of thousands more migrants could be living in Britain than official figures would suggest. Speaking to the Daily Telegraph, he called for the PM to come clean.
6. Murdoch and Hall to swap vows in London
Media mogul Rupert Murdoch married former model Jerry Hall in a low-key ceremony yesterday. The couple will repeat their vows at a church service on Saturday. In what may have been a final act of frugality before marrying a billionaire, says the Daily Telegraph, Hall spent just £14 on a pair of own-brand black tights at the hosiery store Tabio.
7. Kirstie Allsopp says Queen is 'a litter picker'
The Queen is a “keen litter picker”, claims TV presenter Kirstie Allsopp. As controversy rages on over the ‘Clean for the Queen’ programme, under which hundreds of thousands of people will tidy up their neighbourhoods in time for the Queen’s 90th birthday, Allsopp, a celebrity supporter of the plan, said: “I have it on good authority that if she sees litter, she picks it up.”
8. Unloved Slough debates changing its name
The unfashionable town of Slough is considering changing its name. The much-derided town, which has been mocked by everyone from Sir John Betjeman to Ricky Gervais, should change its name to avoid “social stigma”, says a local member of the UK youth parliament. However, Slough borough council said: “We are Slough, fame and infamy alike.”
9. Billionaire snaps up a Bob Dylan treasure chest
A billionaire has bought a vast Bob Dylan archive for an American university. The collection of 6,000 items including lyrics, photographs, correspondence, films and recordings, has been acquired by the George Kaiser Family Foundation and the University of Tulsa for an estimated $15 to $20m. It includes the notebooks that hold the ideas behind Dylan’s 1975 masterpiece Blood on the Tracks.
10. North London prepares for 'biggest ever derby'
Spurs host Arsenal today in what is widely described as the biggest north London derby of all time. Spurs are in second place with 54 points, while the Gunners began the day in third, with 51 points. Leicester are away to Watford, while Manchester City, still hoping to restart their league title bid, will entertain Aston Villa.
