05/03/2016 BBC Weekend News

The Chancellor, George Osborne has dropped plans to cut tax relief

He had been expected to announce the move in the Budget in less

than two weeks time, but he was warned the changes

Campaigners say he's missed a "huge opportunity" to tackle pension

inequality and to help the lower paid.

Our political correspondent, Ross Hawkins reports.

It would have been a radical Budget Day change to the way we save for

retirement. At the moment, you are not taxed on the money you pay into

your pension pot. Instead, you pay your tax when the pension pays out.

One idea was that this could be reversed, so the Government would

tax money on the way in, and not on the way out which would have raised

extra cash for the tertiary. The Chancellor seemed the like the idea.

I am open to further radical change, pensions could be treated lie Isa,

you pay in from taxed income and it is tax free when you take it out.

Not any more. Treasury sources say that won't happen, a move welcome by

a former Pensions Minister It is good news the Chancellor has dropped

his pension's Isa idea, because people wouldn't have trusted

politicians not to tax them for a second time.

Very bad news though, to those who think an existing pension system

that gives the biggest tax breaks to some of best paid needs to change.

It St a missed opportunity to try and make the pension system work

better, for people like the self-employed and people on zero

hours contracts and others facing economic uncertainty. Why no reform

now? Well, Conservatives want to clear the decks for the EU

referendum battle. Thank you. And some of his MPs weren't keen on the

pension idea. I think that had there been significant changes in the

scheme that would have disadvantaged people, it is inevitable we would

have been called by our constituent, they would have been angry about it.

There is the important point what we don't want to do is having two large

complicated arguments at the same time when we have this important

referendum coming up in June. Which means with a week-and-a-half

to go before he does this again, he will need a different big idea to

take to Parliament on Budget Day. Joining us from Westminster

is our political correspondent, Is this idea dead and buried do you

think? Certainly looks like it. It has not been put back by six money,

it has been rejected. It is inconvenient for a Chancellor who

didn't say it would happened but talked about it at the despatch box

as an idea. The key issue has been objections from industry, and what

George Osborne didn't want is a big fight with the pension company, any

sort of row that could allow his opponents to say look here, look at

what we have another omnishambles budget. That is not just because of

the EU referendum but another political fight that is coming up

before the end of the Parliament, a bit sooner than that, that is the

contest to be the next Conservative leader and the Chancellor wants to

on the best possible political form for that one.

The director-general of the British Chambers of Commerce

has been suspended, after saying Britain would be better off

John Longworth's comments, in a speech on Thursday,

The organisation, which represents thousands

of businesses, had said it wouldn't campaign for either side.

Tear gas and water cannon have been used by Turkish police to push back

protesters in Istanbul, angry at the government takeover

of the country's biggest-selling newspaper.

Officers raided Zaman's headquarters last night,

hours after a court ruling placed it under state control.

Today's edition of the paper said Turkey's press had experienced "one

China's economy faces a "difficult battle ahead".

That's the warning from the country's Premier at the start

The meeting, which sets out China's agenda for the year ahead,

has been warned of another slow-down in the rate of economic growth.

Once a year, China opens the gates on a piece of political theatre.

The Communist party leaders use the event to tell the 3000 delegates

what policy will be and this year they said economic growth may fall

as 6.5%, the lowest in more than two decades.

TRANSLATION: Domestically problems and risks that have been building up

Downward pressure on the economy is growing.

The Chinese Premier spoke about huge overcapacity in manufacturing,

This shipyard, with its rusting, unfinished hulls, is already closed.

But others will follow, along with steel mills

It is an admission of the need for painful reform.

People are looking everywhere for work,

this man now re-employed at a neighbouring shipyard says,

And as the economy slows, the authorities are increasingly

At this building in Beijing where those with grievances come

to lodge complaints against the government,

ranks of policemen keep a careful watch.

They forced my factory to close, this man begins to tell me,

Well, if the Parliamentary pomp and ceremony on display up the road

to portray a sense of national unity, these scenes tell

It is one of repression that many people believe is growing

increasingly heavy-handed under President Xi Jinping.

China's leaders have also announced more spending to keep

They may look confident, but they know they are entering

The media mogul Rupert Murdoch and his new wife, model Jerry Hall,

have had their marriage blessed in central London.

The couple wed in a civil ceremony yesterday.

Celebrities from the worlds of the arts and business joined

the couple's 10 children from previous marriages

and relationships at the service at St Bride's Church in Fleet

His report contains flash photography.

A year ago, Rupert Murdoch hadn't even met his bride.

Today, flanked by his two sons, there was perhaps just a trace

of nerves, as he prepared for the blessing of his marriage

Sir Michael Caine was one of many famous names on the guest list.

Former Rolling Stone Bill Wyman was there too, as was Bob Geldof.

Dame Edna Everage's alter ego said the wedding was a collector's item.

I got them David Beckham and a pair of jump leads.

All ten children from the couple's previous relationships

Jerry Hall, in a pale blue Vivienne Westwood dress,

escaped most of the media crush by slipping in through a side door.

This is a couple who knows how to manage the media.

From the surprise revelation of their courtship last October

to the announcement in The Times about their engagement two months

ago, they have stayed one step ahead of the press pack.

She is 59, he is 84, and he said on Twitter "the luckiest

The service is now under way in St Bride's Church,

and if you listen very carefully, you can almost hear the sound

Publishing and power fusing with celebrity and glamour.

Mr and Mrs Murdoch faced the cameras afterwards and declined

The media mogul perhaps trying to ensure something else gets

In football, North London rivals Tottenham and Arsenal drew 2-2

at White Hart Lane, in what was billed their most

The result means they stay second and third in the table,

A contest for local pride, now also a national title.

In the first half, Spurs were busier, Arsenal more productive.

Playing themselves back in to form with one move,

Was this this the flick that switches on their title charge?

Francis Coquelin already had a yellow card before this.

The referee's opinion - no choice, Red card.

The referee's opinion - no choice, red card.

That expression shows Coquelin knew what might happen.

Five minutes later Alderweireld was forgotten about,

Arsenal were still adjusting to their reduced circumstances

when Spurs got the ball to Harry Kane.

No need for a protective mask - he would have felt invisible

But Arsenal's ten men were not yet beaten.

Sanchez took aim on a skiddy pitch - an equaliser of character.

So a point and a missed opportunity each.

On north London's big day, the real winners might be Leicester.

There's more throughout the evening on the BBC News Channel,

we are back with the late news at 10 o'clock.