UK Chancellor George Osborne will warn there are no "miracle cures" for Britain's problems today as he admits more drastic action is needed to balance his government's books.

The biggest strike in Britain for over 30 years got under way today with schools, hospitals, courts, transport and government hit by a walkout involving up to two million workers.

Directors in the UK's top firms have seen their pay rise by almost 50% in the past year, taking their average earnings to just under £2.7m, a new study revealed today.

The Transport Minister Leo Vardakar has denied that new drink driving laws, which include changes to the penalties involved, are a "soft touch".

Former Climate Change Secretary Ed Miliband has won the support of a second trade union in a week in his bid to become the next leader of the Labour Party.

Talks to try to break the deadlocked postal dispute in the UK are expected to resume today as the Royal Mail faces legal action over the recruitment of 30,000 agency staff during the strike.

More British Airways workers have rejected the airline's plans to axe thousands of jobs and freeze pay, it was revealed today ahead of a crucial annual meeting of the company.

The British GMB union has urged Ford to disclose the terms of a multi-million pound sponsorship deal it has renewed with the Uefa Champions League football tournament.

Union officials responded to a cost-saving offer from British Airways for staff to take unpaid leave by insisting today that their members cannot afford to work for free.

Talks on agreeing thousands of job cuts at British Airways as part of efficiency savings were reaching a crucial stage today as a union leader warned against any compulsory redundancies.

The British National Party has won its its first two seats in the European Parliament.

Luxury clothing brand Burberry came under attack today when workers heard from the media that they were losing their jobs under plans to close a factory.

Talks got underway today on more than 50 potential redundancies at a building materials supplier in the North.

Thousands of JCB workers have voted to accept a £50 (€63) a week pay cut to save 350 jobs from being cut, the GMB union announced today.

A worker at Marks & Spencer faced a three-hour disciplinary hearing today after he “blew the whistle” on plans to cut redundancy pay for the company’s staff in the UK.

A worker at Marks & Spencer who “blew the whistle” on plans to cut redundancy pay for the firm’s 70,000 staff has been suspended and is facing a disciplinary hearing, it was revealed today.

British Airways is to postpone moving most of its long-haul flights to Heathrow’s T5 because of continuing problems at the £4.3bn (€5.3bn) terminal, union sources said today.

Legislation to nationalise Northern Rock passes to the House of Lords today, after it was rushed through all its Commons stages in a single day.

Union leaders in the UK were today seeking talks with the British government over reports that clean-up work at a number of defunct nuclear reactors is to be halted because of funding problems.

Saga and the AA unveiled surprise plans for a £6.2bn (€9.2bn) merger today, creating one of the UK's largest private equity-owned companies.

The guardian of the Boots pension fund attacked the company today for backing a £11.1bn (€16.3bn) takeover before agreement had been reached on funding for future retirement benefits.

The likely private equity takeover of Alliance Boots will probably lead to “opportunistic financial rape”, a retail expert has said.

The storm over the power of private equity funds is set to reignite with the news of a possible takeover of high street chain Boots.

Demonstrations against the planned closure of a UK factory by designer clothes firm Burberry are to be held in cities across Europe and the United States tomorrow.

India’s Tata Steel won the battle for Corus early today after a dramatic night of bidding sent the Anglo-Dutch firm’s value soaring to £5.75bn (€8.66bn).

Hundreds of workers building the new Wembley Stadium were told today they will be laid off next week because of a dispute between contractors over pay.

The union representing 1,600 workers who have lost their jobs with supermarket chain Morrisons says the cuts are a “direct consequence” of the company’s takeover of Safeway.

Managing director of Heathrow Airport Mick Temple has said days of delays face passengers at the airport after British Airways cancelled all its flights because of an unofficial walkout by baggage handlers.

Tens of thousands of air passengers were hit by travel chaos today when a lightning strike by baggage handlers grounded British Airways flights at Heathrow Airport.

Hundreds of drivers who work for the AA recovery service are to be balloted for strike action in a dispute over workload.

An airport check-in worker in Britain has been suspended for having too much gel in his hair, it was revealed today.

Workers from a Northern Ireland factory facing closure have been ordered to train the people taking their jobs, it emerged tonight.

Hopes of a breakthrough in the British Airways pay dispute rose today following a fresh round of talks aimed at averting a crippling strike over the August Bank Holiday weekend.

The British Airways pay dispute escalated today when thousands more workers including baggage handlers voted to strike, threatening travel chaos for tens of thousands of holidaymakers.

Air passengers were today warned they face travel chaos after British Airways’ check-in staff voted to strike in a row over pay.

Campaign groups, politicians and union leaders were joining forces today to launch a drive to recycle ships in the UK rather than send them to Third World countries to be dismantled.

Airline giant British Airways was today set to announce a fresh package of savings which unions fear will lead to the loss of thousands of jobs.

Talks between British Airways and unions have broken down, raising the odds of more strike action over the summer.

Union leaders were seeking urgent meetings with Ryanair today after the airline’s expected take-over of low cost carrier Buzz failed to go ahead.

Up to 400 jobs are set to go at budget airline Buzz when the carrier’s new owner, Ryanair, takes over in April, the GMB union has warned.

Unions are pledging to fight plans by British Airways to cut £37m from workers' pay.

Another 80 aviation jobs have been cut in the wake of the US terrorist attacks.

Oil giant BP Amoco was today facing the wrath of UK motorists by reporting huge profits - just a week after putting up its petrol prices.