Welfare

As Labour announces plans to guarantee jobs for the long-term unemployed, Channel 4 News assesses whether government schemes – from the new deal to the work programme – actually work.

Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg defends the Liberal Democrats’ record in government, saying they ensured that welfare cuts were less “draconian” than the Conservatives wanted.

Chancellor George Osborne is expected to unveil a wealth tax on the rich and a revised welfare cuts package in a mini-budget he says is designed to hit both ends of the pay scale.

Half a million people are to be taken out of benefit and that will affect disabled sports people as much as others. Keme Nzerem has been hearing their views.

Exclusive: In her first TV interview since stepping down from A4e Emma Harrison tells Channel 4 News that she was “bullied out of a job”.

An inquiry headed by Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson says a number of groups will be hit by the introduction of universal credit, which replaces much of the benefits and tax credits system from 2013.

The US now wants Britain to extradite Maxim Bakiyev on allegations of fraud. He fled his homeland after a 2010 revolt that left at least 80 people dead and toppled the government.

Chancellor George Osborne targets the under-25s and parents in a new blitz on welfare claimants announced at the Conservative conference.

The implication is clear enough: George Osborne believes benefit claimants should think long and hard before having children – or risk losing some of their state support.

The parents of a disabled man who died after being found fit for work tell Channel 4 News the system isn’t working. Colin Traynor’s appeal against the decision was granted, but too late.

The German drug-makers that developed thalidomide 50 years ago should “put their money where their mouth is” rather than just express regret to thousands of victims, says a British charity head.

The UK’s economy is not expected to grow at all in 2012 and it will take an “Olympic” effort and hard work to battle the eurozone crisis, domestic deficit-cutting and tight credit conditions.

Stock markets plunged and the cost of borrowing in Spain and Italy went up as the European Central Bank President Mario Draghi disappointed markets with a non-committal press conference.

An exclusive investigation by Channel 4 News gains unprecedented access to underground networks which help families flee from social services in the UK.