Summary

  • A post mortem has found former Lib Dem leader Charles Kennedy died of a "major haemorrhage" that was "a consequence of his battle with alcoholism"

  • Mr Kennedy's family say they have been "touched beyond measure by the outpouring of warmth" from all parts of the country and all sides of politics

  • Former Chancellor Lord Lawson warns David Cameron is unlikely to achieve anything of significance as he seeks to renegotiate the UK's EU membership

  • The public spending watchdog warns Whitehall has failed to plan properly for the implications of past and future cuts to civil service staffing

  • The High Court has ruled a delay in paying welfare benefits to two disabled people "unlawful"

Live Reporting

Nick Eardley and Brian Wheeler

  1. Signing in

    Good morning and welcome to Friday's rolling political coverage. There's no big story of the day so far, but a few things happening in the political world. 

    • Lord Lawson, the former Tory chancellor, has warned David Cameron's EU renegotiation talks are unlikely to achieve anything of significance 
    • The public spending watchdog has warned Whitehall has failed to plan properly for the implications of cuts to staffing in the civil service
    • Later, the High Court is expected to rule on whether the government took too long to process benefit claims by two disabled people, who both say they waited nine months for Personal Independence Payments