The Labour group leader of a Conservative-run council has resigned from his party over huge changes to the benefits system and will sit as an independent member. Dudley councillor Pete Lowe said welfare cuts announced on Tuesday were "the final straw" after months of heart-searching and tears.

We asked Stormont’s four Executive parties to outline the steps they were taking to address the UK government cuts and the impact on those who will lose out

The proof that sacred cows really are being sacrificed is the anger (ideally impotent anger) of those who cherish them most – Labour’s left wingers. Their reaction is not merely predictable (and expect, by the way, to see Labour’s right wingers employ that term pejoratively in the coming days), it is also functional.