LONDON (Reuters) – A big winner in the local elections May 5 is likely to be the recently ousted Labour party and its new leader, but Ed Miliband has a long way to go before voters can see him as the nation’s prime-minister-in-waiting.

Labour was kicked out of office in 2010 after 13 years in power to pay for the deepest recession since World War Two, leaving behind a record budget deficit that the ruling coalition is cutting fast.

Miliband, a former energy minister, has had to accept blame for the previous government’s policy errors and take on the task of overhauling and reviving the brow-beaten party.

Like other European left-wing parties, he must also find a convincing way to rebrand social democratic politics before the next national election in 2015.

It is unclear whether he is the man to do it.

“He is still finding his feet. Part of his problem is that he doesn’t come across as sufficiently authoritative as an alternative prime minister,” said Wyn Grant, a politics professor at the University of Warwick.

“What people would like to see, and what they haven’t seen, is some sort of alternative vision. Many people think that perhaps they made the wrong choice for leader — but it’s still early days.”

LONDON (Reuters) – A big winner in the local elections May 5 is likely to be the recently ousted Labour party and its new leader, but Ed Miliband has a long way to go before voters can see him as the nation’s prime-minister-in-waiting.

Labour was kicked out of office in 2010 after 13 years in power to pay for the deepest recession since World War Two, leaving behind a record budget deficit that the ruling coalition of Conservatives and Liberal Democrats is cutting fast.

Miliband, a former energy minister, has had to accept blame for the previous government’s policy errors and take on the task of overhauling and reviving the brow-beaten party.

Like other European left-wing parties, he must also find a convincing way to rebrand social democratic politics before the next national election in 2015.

It is unclear whether he is the man to do it.

“He is still finding his feet. Part of his problem is that he doesn’t come across as sufficiently authoritative as an alternative prime minister,” said Wyn Grant, a politics professor at the University of Warwick.

“What people would like to see, and what they haven’t seen, is some sort of alternative vision. Many people think that perhaps they made the wrong choice for leader — but it’s still early days.”

LONDON (Reuters) – A big winner in Britain’s local elections May 5 is likely to be the recently ousted Labour party and its new leader, but Ed Miliband has a long way to go before voters can see him as the nation’s prime-minister-in-waiting.

Labour was kicked out of office in 2010 after 13 years in power to pay for the deepest recession since World War Two, leaving behind a record budget deficit that the ruling coalition of Conservatives and Liberal Democrats is cutting fast.

Miliband, a former energy minister, has had to accept blame for the previous government’s policy errors and take on the task of overhauling and reviving the brow-beaten party.

Like other European left-wing parties, he must also find a convincing way to rebrand social democratic politics before the next national election in 2015.

It is unclear whether he is the man to do it.

“He is still finding his feet. Part of his problem is that he doesn’t come across as sufficiently authoritative as an alternative prime minister,” said Wyn Grant, a politics professor at the University of Warwick.

“What people would like to see, and what they haven’t seen, is some sort of alternative vision. Many people think that perhaps they made the wrong choice for leader — but it’s still early days.”

LONDON (Reuters) – Kate Middleton wore a stunning but simple ivory dress created by Alexander McQueen’s Sarah Burton to marry Prince William on Friday, topped off with a tiara on loan from new grandmother-in-law Queen Elizabeth.

Fashionistas across the world had been engulfed in months of fevered speculation over who would get the career-defining job of designing one of the most talked-about outfits of the decade. The dress featured a long train and hand-made lace applique over an ivory-colored bodice and skirt, made of silk and satin. Inspired by the Middleton’s new coat of arms, Kate’s earrings included diamond oak leaves and pear-shaped diamond acorns.

“It has been the experience of a lifetime to work with Catherine Middleton to create her wedding dress, and I have enjoyed every moment of it,” Burton said in a statement.

“It was such an incredible honor to be asked, and I am so proud of what we and the Alexander McQueen team have created.”

Burton said Alexander McQueen’s designs were about marrying contrasts and hoped the combination of traditional fabrics and lacework with a modern structure and design had created a beautiful dress for the future queen.

Designers agreed likening it to bridal gowns worn by Queen Elizabeth’s mother and Grace Kelly when she married Prince Rainier of Monaco.

“The dress is absolutely magical — it looks like it’s been put together by bluebirds,” said Angela Buttolph, editor of fashion magazine Grazia’s website.

LONDON (Reuters) – Kate Middleton wore a stunning but simple ivory dress created by Alexander McQueen’s Sarah Burton to marry Prince William on Friday, topped off with a tiara on loan from new grandmother-in-law Queen Elizabeth.

Fashionistas across the world had been engulfed in months of fevered speculation over who would get the career-defining job of designing one of the most talked-about outfits of the decade.

The dress featured a long train and hand-made lace applique over an ivory-coloured bodice and skirt, made of silk and satin. Inspired by the Middleton’s new coat of arms, Kate’s earrings included diamond oak leaves and pear-shaped diamond acorns.

“The dress is absolutely magical — it looks like it’s been put together by bluebirds,” said Angela Buttolph, editor of fashion magazine Grazia’s website.

“It is the perfect Disney princess dress for what has been the ultimate Walt Disney fairytale, from the red-jacketed prince charming to the enchanted forest in the abbey and her looking this radiant maiden.”

The identity of the designer and details of the dress were kept a closely guarded secret by St. James’s Palace throughout the build-up to Middleton’s wedding to Prince William.

A special marquee was erected outside the entrance to Middleton’s London hotel to prevent anyone getting an early glimpse of the dress before she stepped out of her car outside the abbey.

LONDON (Reuters) – The government said on Tuesday it would not extend early access rights to pension savings for now, but could revisit the decision if it proved an obstacle to forthcoming pension reforms.

The Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition, in power since May 2010, has already announced sweeping changes to the way Britons and the state pay and prepare for retirement, and also wants to encourage more people to save for their future.

As part of efforts to reduce a record budget deficit of about 10 percent of national output and to better cope with an older population, the state retirement age for both men and women is due to rise to 66 by 2020.

Ministers will also explore ways of slackening rules over trivial commutation, where savings from very small occupational pension funds can be accessed as a lump sum, to widen its scope and include small personal pensions.

The government had promised to explore allowing people broader access to part of their personal pension fund before retirement, but a consultation into the issue failed to produce enough support.

“The government has concluded that early access to pension savings should not be considered at the present time,” the Treasury said on Tuesday in its response to the consultation, adding that “overall there was no consensus in favour of change.”

Workers are already allowed to access up to 25 percent of their pension savings as a tax-free lump sum at the age of 55, depending on the scheme they are in.

LONDON (Reuters) – The British government said on Tuesday it would not extend early access rights to pension savings for now, but could revisit the decision if it proved an obstacle to forthcoming pension reforms.

The Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition, in power since May 2010, has already announced sweeping changes to the way Britons and the state pay and prepare for retirement, and also wants to encourage more people to save for their future.

As part of efforts to reduce a record budget deficit of about 10 percent of national output and to better cope with an older population, the state retirement age for both men and women is due to rise to 66 by 2020.

Ministers will also explore ways of slackening rules over trivial commutation, where savings from very small occupational pension funds can be accessed as a lump sum, to widen its scope and include small personal pensions.

The government had promised to explore allowing people broader access to part of their personal pension fund before retirement, but a consultation into the issue failed to produce enough support.

“The government has concluded that early access to pension savings should not be considered at the present time,” the Treasury said on Tuesday in its response to the consultation, adding that “overall there was no consensus in favour of change.”

Workers are already allowed to access up to 25 percent of their pension savings as a tax-free lump sum at the age of 55, depending on the scheme they are in.

LONDON (Reuters) – The government said on Tuesday it would not extend early access rights to pension savings for now, but could revisit the decision if it proved an obstacle to forthcoming pension reforms.

The coalition has already announced sweeping changes to the way Britons and the state pay and prepare for retirement, and also wants to encourage more people to save for their future.

As part of efforts to reduce a record budget deficit of about 10 percent of national output and to better cope with an older population, the state retirement age for both men and women is due to rise to 66 by 2020.

Ministers will also explore ways of slackening rules over trivial commutation, where savings from very small occupational pension funds can be accessed as a lump sum, to widen its scope and include small personal pensions.

The government had promised to explore allowing people broader access to part of their personal pension fund before retirement, but a consultation into the issue failed to produce enough support.

“The government has concluded that early access to pension savings should not be considered at the present time,” the Treasury said on Tuesday in its response to the consultation, adding that “overall there was no consensus in favour of change.”

Workers are already allowed to access up to 25 percent of their pension savings as a tax-free lump sum at the age of 55, depending on the scheme they are in.

LONDON, April 19 (Reuters) – The British government said on Tuesday it would not extend early access rights to pension savings for now, but could revisit the decision if it proved an obstacle to forthcoming pension reforms. The Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition, in power since May 2010, has already announced sweeping changes to the way Britons and the state pay and prepare for retirement, and also wants to encourage more people to save for their future.

As part of efforts to reduce a record budget deficit of about 10 percent of national output and to better cope with an older population, the state retirement age for both men and women is due to rise to 66 by 2020.

Ministers will also explore ways of slackening rules over trivial commutation, where savings from very small occupational pension funds can be accessed as a lump sum, to widen its scope and include small personal pensions.

The government had promised to explore allowing people broader access to part of their personal pension fund before retirement, but a consultation into the issue failed to produce enough support.

“The government has concluded that early access to pension savings should not be considered at the present time,” the Treasury said on Tuesday in its response to the consultation, adding that “overall there was no consensus in favour of change.”

Workers are already allowed to access up to 25 percent of their pension savings as a tax-free lump sum at the age of 55, depending on the scheme they are in.

The consultation found that the risks to the sustainability of a pension outweighed the benefits of potentially persuading more people to pay into a pension fund by broadening early access rights.

LONDON (Reuters) – Former Libyan foreign minister Moussa Koussa is no longer subject to European Union sanctions, the British government said Thursday, the latest move by the West to encourage more defections from Muammar Gaddafi’s regime.

Koussa fled Libya to Britain on March 30, seeking refuge after quitting Gaddafi’s government, reportedly to show his support for the Libyan rebel uprising and to protest against attacks by Gaddafi’s forces on civilians.

He was questioned by Scottish police over the 1988 Lockerbie bombing, but has not been under any travel restrictions.

In a statement issued Thursday, Britain’s Treasury said Koussa had been deleted from the EU financial sanctions list, removing a freeze on his assets.

“We have done that — it sends a powerful signal to other potential defectors that, if they are currently on a list, they could be taken off that list if they do things differently,” a British government source told Reuters.

The United States lifted sanctions against Koussa on April 4.

This week, the former top aide to Gaddafi left Britain to talk with Libyan opposition figures on the sidelines of an international meeting on Libya in Doha.