Communities Secretary Eric Pickles today announced the Government has shelved Labour's plans to revaluate every property in England's council tax band.
Victims of the tax blunder which will see 1.4 million people asked to pay cash back to the taxman may qualify for increased benefits to soften the blow.
Savers were once again left reeling as higher air fares and food bills helped keep rises in the cost of living over the past year well above the Bank of England's inflation target.
Beleaguered government department HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) is facing fresh anger as its helpline for tax credits renewals is jammed, with some benefit recipients unable to get through for two weeks.