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

A report by an umbrella body for 400 recruitment companies and City accountancy firm KPMG has highlighted Britain’s “two-speed labour market” and says unemployment is set to increase into next year.

The European Parliament’s Socialist group is celebrating two big victories for financial reform after the EP backed the report by Greek Socialist Anni Podimata to establish an EU-wide Financial Transactions Tax (FTT) by a majority of 529 votes to 127, while the parliament’s economic committee voted – by 34 votes to 8 – to ban naked short selling.

Joblessness among women jumped by 71,000 last year, as the TUC warned of a looming employment crisis.

Government plans for a rapid privatisation of the nation’s fire service have been thrown into disarray after its flagship privatisation company, AssetCo, had to ask its three top directors, including founder John Shannon, to quit.

Labour chiefs have faced a backlash over a mysterious rule change which would reduce union power on the party’s ruling National Executive Committee.