Some crazy rumours flying around about Labour MPs rushing back from holidays, newspaper advert order being placed, and Number 10 driving something or other for a Tuesday deadline.   more »

The Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) published new guidance yesterday that explains its view of what counts as personal data under the Data Protection Act (DPA). Information that is not personal data today may become personal data as technology advances, it says.   more »

Barclays Bank borrowed £1.6bn from the Bank of England on Wednesday. It is the second time this month that the bank has tapped into the central bank's emergency credit line, sparking fears it is facing a cash crisis. On 20 August, Barclays was forced to take out a £314m loan from the Bank of England after HSBC was unable to process a last-minute request for the money.   more »

It is really getting quite untenable for British Prime Minister Gordon Brown to continue pretending that the new European treaty is not the Constitution, hence no referendum is needed. Yesterday the Conference of Presidents, the organising body of the European Parliament, had its first meeting after the summer recess. And what was on the agenda?   more »