THE British Government’s decision to opt for a new generation of nuclear power stations was declared unlawful by a High Court judge yesterday because of a “seriously flawed” public consultation process.

France and Britain were poised to clash today at European Union talks seeking to end London’s decades-old opt-out of the EU’s 48-hour maximum working week.

British manufacturing was being “massacred”, a senior union leader claimed today as workers at car giant Vauxhall were waiting to be told that up to 1,000 jobs are to be axed.

British households faced the threat of further increases in energy bills today after a regulator warned that gas supplies could be even tighter this winter.

UK defence company BAE Systems defended its decision to sell its 20% stake in aircraft builder Airbus in the face of shareholder anger today.

The British government plans to give fathers up to six months paternity leave and a year off work for mothers will help tackle the UK’s long hours culture, campaigners said tonight.

The recent leak at Sellafield is “another damning indictment” of the ageing nuclear power station, the Environment Minister said today.

THE British Government agreed yesterday to invest up to £180 million (€264m) in the Northern Ireland subsidiary of Canada’s Bombardier to establish it as a supplier for the parent company’s new family of airliners.

Thousands of workers at MG Rover were today awaiting the inevitable arrival of their redundancy notices following the collapse of the carmaker.

British Chancellor Gordon Brown today indicated that claims MG Rover bosses made millions may be part of a future investigation into the ailing car group.

Administrators at the collapsed MG Rover car group are seeking to reopen discussions with Chinese manufacturers SAIC to revive a deal which could keep the company’s Longbridge plant open, it was confirmed today.

Aerospace and defence group BAE Systems today denied it had any plans to sell its stake in European aircraft giant Airbus.

UNIONS in Britain last night voiced fears that people will be forced to work until they drop under Government plans to end fixed retirement ages.

British government ministers are to hold talks with the bosses of some of the UK's biggest companies in a bid to allay fears over the European constitution.

British Energy today said it had been given the all-clear to extend the deadline for a life-saving financial restructuring.

The UK should treat China as a trading partner rather than a threat, a British government minister said today at the end of an official visit to the region.

IT was the most audacious attack yet mounted by the IRA, although the toll in lives and injuries was far less than in many other of its atrocities.

The UK's Trade and Industry Secretary Patricia Hewitt today called on British businesses to form partnerships with Chinese companies, in order to benefit from the success of the world’s fastest-growing economy.

The takeover of the UK's Telegraph titles by the Barclay brothers will not be challenged on public interest grounds.

The UK is to give a £15m (€22m) grant to Russia to help pay for a storage facility for spent nuclear fuel, the British government announced today.

The hard-line Euro-sceptic UK Independence Party was today celebrating a night of stunning gains in the European elections as Labour and the Tories saw their support crash to record lows.

More than seven in 10 men believe their performance at work is damaged because of a lack of work-life balance, a survey revealed today.

British firms led by oil giant BP gained a stronger foothold in China today by clinching deals worth more than $1.5bn (€1.2bn).

A plan to tackle sickness rates of up to 35% and high turnover in call centres in the UK is to get British government backing, it was announced today.

ITV merger partners Carlton Communications and Granada today looked set to benefit from a shake-up of ITV licence renewals.

CARLTON Communications chairman Michael Green is set to receive a £1.4 million pay-off when the group merges with Granada despite not having a formal contract.

Carlton Communications chairman Michael Green is set to receive a £1.4m (€2m) pay-off when the group merges with Granada, despite not having a formal contract, it emerged today.

Workers at the British nuclear reprocessing plant in Sellafield are to stage two one-day strikes in a dispute over pay, unions announced today.

Shares in ITV groups Granada and Carlton soared today after speculation that their planned £3.8bn (€5.5bn) merger could get the go-ahead with minimal strings attached.

British Prime Minister Tony Blair privately conceded before war with Iraq started that Saddam Hussein had no weapons of mass destruction that could be used within 45 minutes, former Foreign Secretary Robin Cook claimed today.

Troubled nuclear power group British Energy announced today that it is in the process of signing a deal to prevent it being placed in administration.

Supermarket group Wm Morrison, which last week received the go-ahead to bid for rival Safeway, may be forced to raise its offer to £3.5bn (€5bn), it was reported today.

The FTSE 100 Index got off to another difficult start today, sinking back below the 4200 mark after a fresh sell-off on Wall Street last night.

BILLIONAIRE Bhs boss Philip Green was yesterday reported to have ruled himself out of the bidding for supermarket group Safeway.

Shoe designer to the stars Jimmy Choo has been given an honorary OBE for his services to fashion.

BRITISH companies must have a “level playing field” to bid for contracts for rebuilding Iraq once the war is over, British Trade and Industry Secretary Patricia Hewitt said yesterday.

A competition watchdog today handed the findings of an investigation into all five potential bidders of UK supermarket chain Safeway to the British government for approval.

ITV broadcasters Carlton and Granada today shrugged off the referral of their proposed £2.9bn (€4.3bn) merger to competition watchdogs.

Tony Blair has welcomed an agreement reached by more than 140 countries giving new momentum to efforts to boost global trade.

British Telecom chief executive Peter Bonfield could earn almost £3m this year after signing a new contract with the group, it emerged today.

The controversy over the Countess of Wessex has taken a new twist with a Government minister saying the Royal Family are "a bit bonkers".

Corus has agreed to study union plans aimed at saving 6,000 threatened jobs after a "very productive" meeting with unions.

The Trade and Industry secretary has referred the proposed takeover of Abbey National by Lloyds TSB to the Competition Commission