fBritain’s major lenders are facing a full-scale competition probe over personal accounts and small business banking under plans set out by the watchdog today.

Jubilant Ukip leader Nigel Farage said his “people’s army” was on its way to Westminster after securing first place in historic elections for the European Parliament.

Pfizer defended the business case behind its plan to acquire AstraZeneca yesterday and questioned the UK company’s ability to stand alone for much longer as the US group’s CEO prepared for a grilling from British MPs.

Speculation is mounting that US pharmaceutical giant Pfizer is set to make a hostile bid for AstraZeneca after its €76bn takeover offer was spurned.

Barclays bosses will face more shareholder anger over pay tomorrow when the banking giant holds its annual general meeting in London.

The head of the Ulster Bank has warned of future branch closures in response to a huge ongoing shift towards on-line banking.

Allegations that Royal Bank of Scotland Group Plc pushed small businesses into default will be investigated as the British markets’ regulator called on other banks to review their lending practices.

Royal Bank of Scotland is facing allegations of “unscrupulous” treatment of small businesses in a report claiming the lender drove firms to collapse to buy back their assets at rock-bottom prices.

There are growing calls for British Prime Minister David Cameron to consider a second vote on military action in Syria, if more evidence against President Assad emerges.

Plans to boost credit to small businesses in the UK have been dealt a blow after a major lender delayed its launch into the sector until 2016.

Britain’s loss of its prized AAA credit rating intensified the pressure on sterling today despite another rally for London’s top flight shares index.

Alternative lending for British small businesses that uses the web to match borrowers and lenders received a £110m (€136.5m) boost from the UK government and private sector today.

Levels of bankers’ bonuses are to be dictated by shareholders under new rules from the European Commission.

More than eight in 10 City workers in the UK expect to receive a bonus this year, a survey revealed today, despite the economic downturn and public pressure to curb excessive pay.

The City of London’s obsession with short-term profits is to be attacked today in a report set to press for a sweeping overhaul of pay policies.

The closeness of David Cameron’s links to the Murdoch media empire were further exposed today when it was revealed Rebekah Brooks told him they were “definitely in this together”.

David Cameron, George Osborne, Nick Clegg and Gordon Brown are among a string of major political figures due to appear before the Leveson Inquiry next week.

Aviva has reportedly come under pressure from two major shareholders to replace chief executive Andrew Moss following a massive protest vote against executive pay.

David Cameron insisted today there was no “grand deal” between himself and the Murdochs to wave through News Corporation’s takeover of BSkyB.

Japanese car giant Nissan praised the workforce at its UK plant today after announcing plans to build a new model under a £125m (€150m) investment programme, creating 2,000 jobs.

A £963,000 bonus for the boss of a UK taxpayer-funded bank has been attacked as “out of touch” by Labour, as a British government minister claimed he had a public “duty” to refuse it.

The British government will tomorrow "accept in full" radical plans to shake up the banking industry despite fears the measures will harm the economy, UK Business Secretary Vince Cable said today.

Resurgent car maker Jaguar Land Rover is poised to confirm this week that it will build a £400m engine plant in the British Midlands that will create up to 2,000 jobs, it was reported today.

Irresponsible bankers who take unacceptable risks or mis-sell products to customers should be barred from the profession, UK opposition leader Ed Miliband said today.

The FTSE 100 Index continued its rebound today as positive jobs and manufacturing data from the US ensured a last minute push into the black.

BMW will build its next generation of Minis in Britain in a move that will help safeguard more than 5,000 jobs, the company said today.

The UK’s top banks were today accused of failing to do enough to back small businesses after figures revealed lending targets agreed with the Government are set to be missed.

Egypt's new military rulers have begun dismantling ousted President Hosni Mubarak's regime.

Britains' Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt said today that he intends to refer News Corporation’s bid for full control of BSkyB to the Competition Commission.

There is strong support among British people for an independent investigation into the takeover bid for broadcaster, BSkyB, by Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation, according to an opinion poll today.

The BBC was today claiming victory in the UK's Christmas Day TV viewing battle with eight of the top 10 most-watched shows.

Torchwood star John Barrowman won the Strictly Come Dancing Christmas Special tonight and said he would "love to do the entire series".

Plans for a showdown meeting today between UK government ministers and banking chiefs have been postponed because of travel disruption caused by heavy snowfall.

Rupert Murdoch’s News Corporation is expected to be told this week that regulators in Brussels have no objections to its £7.8bn (€9.2bn) bid to buy BSkyB, according to press reports.

The UK's Business Secretary Vince Cable is planning to take "robust action" on "completely unjustified" payouts by banks in Britain.

London: Russian banks may buy stakes in Britain’s “large” financial companies, said Finance Minister Alexei Kudrin.

Britain’s biggest banks were said today to be in talks about reducing the multi-billion pound staff bonus pot.

Satellite broadcaster BSkyB celebrated a milestone today by reaching its target of 10 million television customers before the end of this year.

Satellite broadcaster BSkyB moved closer to its target of 10 million customers today as it added 96,000 subscribers in the first three months of its financial year.

Britain's biggest banks are planning to launch a multimillion-pound fund to bolster smaller businesses, it was reported today.

UK Business Secretary Vince Cable today accused high street banks of "ripping off" their customers as it was disclosed some are charging up to 167% interest on unauthorised overdrafts.

British Foreign Secretary William Hague promised today to inject a "new commercialism" into Britain's foreign policy.

Production of the first full hybrid vehicle in Europe was officially launched today at Toyota’s main UK plant by Business Secretary Vince Cable.

British Prime Minister Gordon Brown’s attempts to strike a power-sharing deal with the Liberal Democrats were severely undermined today as a string of senior Labour figures spoke out against the move.