Tribune – Comment, news and reviews from Britain's democratic left

The Government’s cuts programme is about to switch into a higher gear in the coming months as hundreds of thousands of public sector workers – and private sector contractors and suppliers – see their livelihoods hit by redundancies and high inflation.

Campaigners are stepping up the battle to defend council housing in Britain as local authorities, encouraged by the Conservative-led coalition, try to sell off more council homes to private firms and housing associations – leading, inevitably, to higher rents and a poorer deal for tenants.

As the situation at the stricken Fukushima nuclear plant in northern Japan continues to deteriorate, tap water in Tokyo was declared “unfit for babies” when it became clear that radiation leaking from the plant had contaminated the capital’s water supply.

As French, American and British forces pressed home the advantage of their overwhelming military might to enforce a no-fly zone over northern Libya, the flames of popular revolt appear to be gathering strength in other countries in North Africa and the Middle East.

Britain’s predicted rate of economic growth was revised downwards by the Office of Budget Responsibility as Chancellor George Osborne claimed his Budget was one for growth.