Finance

Macpherson says IDS's resignation over Personal Independence Payments was an "interesting, postmodern" decision

Troup faces media scrutiny over role at Simmons & Simmons – as HMRC points out his role "has never involved responsibility for operational activities or direct dealings with companies on their tax affairs"

HMRC asks for access to the Panama Papers offshore leaks and vows to "relentlessly pursue" wrongdoing – but tax expert Richard Murphy says department "just hasn’t got the resources"

Second perm sec to announce he is leaving the civil service after vying for top Treasury job

Proposals to make local government financially self-sufficient by 2020 must not be impacted by George Osborne's business-boosting measures, a lobby group has warned

Chancellor says: "I’ve made adjustments to my plans to make sure we are going to live within our means"

Plans to end local authority reliance on Whitehall gather pace

Chancellor pays tribute to "great public servant" – but SNP MPs jeer reference to "impartiality"

Weaker growth and delayed sales of government assets expected to contribute to missed target

"The obvious efficiency savings have come through in the early period," says former head of the civil service – as chancellor prepares to outline £4bn of further spending cuts

“Acute hospital trusts are at crisis point,” warns PAC chair Meg Hillier

Spending watchdog questions the government’s claims on SME spending, and urges departments to make sure that initiatives to improve commercial capability do not undermine attempts to support small companies