"James Murdoch will hope this resignation takes some of the pressure off News Corp's bid for BSkyB. No doubt the other BSkyB owners will be breathing a sigh of relief that the bid, for now, seems to be on the back burner.

"However, whether or not News Corp qualifies as a 'fit and proper person' remains to be seen, and there are still unanswered questions on James Murdoch's knowledge of phone hacking.

"It is essential that this resignation does not act as a barrier to finding out the truth."

"Liberal Democrat councillors across the country are working to protect the services that people value most, while Liberal Democrats in the Coalition clear up the economic mess Labour left behind.

"Our priority is clear, in difficult times we must make sure we do all we can to help ordinary working people. That is why, unlike Labour or the Conservatives, every Liberal Democrat council in England has frozen council tax. That is why Liberal Democrat councils are more likely to earmark funds for the lowest paid than any other. And that is why this month Liberal Democrats in Government are delivering tax cuts for 25m working people.

"Liberal Democrats have a strong record in local government and are committed to fighting for communities across the UK."

"This carefully framed report is a significant contribution to the controversial debate about extradition of British citizens to the United States.

"Its conclusions, in so far as they relate to the standard of proof and the forum for trial are, unimpeachable.

"The Home Secretary must surely take account of these valid arguments for change."

Also inside Peter Arnold asks some questions about Scottish independence.

This week Nick Clegg has been representing the UK at the 2012 Nuclear Security Summit in Seoul, which was attended by representatives from 53 nations. The Deputy Prime Minister had a number of one-to-one meetings with world leaders, including US President Barack Obama.

The UK delegation, led by the Deputy Prime Minister, called for more vigilance about the spread of potentially dangerous information and discussed progress on attempts to 'lock down' vulnerable nuclear materials.

During his visit to South Korea, he announced that a Free Trade Agreement between the EU and Korea had been agreed. The Agreement could bring £500m per year to the UK economy and create £2bn new export opportunities for UK businesses. He also unveiled a new Host2Host agreement which will help British firms win contracts for sporting events like the 2014 Asian Games, the World Student Games in 2015 and Pyeongchang Winter Olympics 2018.

One leader he spent time with was President Pinera of Chile, who rose to prominence in the UK with his handling of the rescue of the 33, trapped miners in October 2010.

They had a wide ranging discussion which covered, among other topics, the global economic situation; the upcoming Rio +20 environment summit (at which both Nick and President Pinera will be representing their respective countries) and tensions between the UK and Argentina over the Falkland Islands.

Interestingly, President Pinera had a keen interest in Liberal Democrat tax policy. The clearly well-informed President was quick to ask - completely unprompted - whether the Budget had yet been voted on; when the personal allowance might be raised further and how many people had been lifted out of paying income tax. Nick was only too pleased to be able to answer his questions - particularly on lifting two million people out of tax.

A clearly impressed Chilean President hailed the "excellent" tax policy before wishing Nick luck with his efforts to raise the threshold further. Extraordinary evidence of the global recognition that this policy is starting to enjoy.

"Tonight's budget votes confirmed the resolve of the Lib Dems to give tax cuts to millions and to make sure that the burden of paying more is taken by those with the highest incomes.

"But tonight's budget votes also showed that Labour are all over the place on financial policy and that their votes and actions do not match their words.

"After five days of huff and puff from Ed Balls, and sustained protest about the proposal to lower the highest level of tax rate next year, Labour MPs were not in the chamber to vote against the change. This says all the public need to know about Labour's position.

"A last minute increase in the higher tax rate before the election and no real commitment to continue the 50p tax rate while they are in opposition shows how they value rhetoric more than action."

"Tonight's budget votes confirmed the resolve of the Lib Dems to give tax cuts to millions and to make sure that the burden of paying more is taken by those with the highest incomes.

"But tonight's budget votes also showed that Labour are all over the place on financial policy and that their votes and actions do not match their words.

"After five days of huff and puff from Ed Balls, and sustained protest about the proposal to lower the highest level of tax rate next year, Labour MPs were not in the chamber to vote against the change. This says all the public need to know about Labour's position.

"A last minute increase in the higher tax rate before the election and no real commitment to continue the 50p tax rate while they are in opposition shows how they value rhetoric more than action."

"It is of course right for the Treasury to explore all options before selling RBS. However, it is absolutely essential that any sale is done to deliver the best possible benefit to the tax payer.

"The best way to guarantee a fair deal for taxpayers would be through the mass distribution of the stakes the Government owns in RBS and Lloyds. It is the fairest way of giving taxpayers a share of the rewards while ensuring the Treasury returns its investment.

"If a sovereign wealth fund wants to buy shares in RBS they should be buying them direct from the taxpayer, so those people who bailed out the bank enjoy the greatest return."

Julian Huppert MP, Co-Chair of the Liberal Democrat Transport Committee, said:

"That is a fantastic achievement. Low carbon public transport is critical if we are to wean ourselves off fossil fuels. So too is a cheap and reliable transport system, otherwise people will simply choose to drive.

"The new spending announced today proves that Liberal Democrats in Government are dedicated to providing the quality local bus service which this country is so desperately lacking.

"Local Authorities will be able to provide real time travel information, smart ticketing, extra buses, Wi-Fi, improved accessibility, new bus stops, bus lanes, junction improvements and better traffic management.

"These reforms are exactly what local transport needs and they are exactly why Liberal Democrats in Government are committed to delivering on our manifesto commitment to meet our climate change goals and build a cheap, reliable transport service in every community"

Victory for 'further faster' campaign

Chief Secretary to the Treasury, Danny Alexander MP, writes:

"Over 20 million working people will be better off next year after Liberal Democrats in the Coalition government delivered the biggest ever increase in the income tax personal allowance in the Budget.

"The increase of £1,100 is worth £220 to 21 million working people - taking the total income tax cut for working people delivered over three years by the Coalition to nearly £550 a year. Two million people will pay no income tax at all. By going 'further and faster' as Nick Clegg promised, we getting real help to millions of hard-pressed people at a time when they need it most.

"The £14bn tax cut means that the government is in 'touching distance' of delivering the most important promise we Liberal Democrats made in the 2010 General Election manifesto - that no one should have to pay any income tax until they earn more than £10,000.
"With the allowance rising to an historic high of £9,205 next April, our aim will be to deliver the final step at the next budget - so that people get the full benefit over a year before the 2015 General Election.

"This big tax cut for working people is paid for in part by a significant increase in the tax paid by the wealthiest. As part of the Coalition budget deal, we agreed to reduce the top rate of tax to 45p - but only after securing a series of new taxes on the wealthy that pay for it five times over.
"Labour's 50p rate turned out not to work effectively. By introducing taxes that do work, like a tycoon tax, raising stamp duty, blocking stamp duty avoidance, and getting non-resident companies to pay Capital Gains Tax on their residential property, we have secured real progress on the taxation of wealth. This is a Budget for the many, not the few.

"All of this has been done while sticking to our tough but necessary plan to deal with this country's financial problems. Britain can't afford unfunded giveaways - unlike the last Labour government, we have made sure everything is paid for.

"The Budget shows real progress on our commitments to infrastructure - on roads, railways, and renewable energy. Tougher green taxes on company cars will help cut emissions as well as raising money.

"The Budget delivers other long fought for Liberal Democrat ideas. The government is now committed to delivering the 'single tier pension' - Steve Webb's plan for a Citizen's Pension that will mean a basic pension above the means test of around £140 per week.

"Specific measures to support key industrial sectors like creative industries, technology investment, aerospace and university spin out, as well as further Business Tax simplification means that we have delivered a Budget for growth as well as fairness.

"The negotiations on this Budget were friendly but hard fought. But Liberal Democrats should be proud of what we have achieved - not for ourselves, but for the millions of people who voted for us because they saw a party willing to stand up for the squeezed middle. Those people can see the difference we are making in government for them - and that gives us a very strong message for the elections in May and beyond."

Over 20 million working people will be better off next year after Liberal Democrats in the Coalition Government delivered the biggest ever increase in the income tax personal allowance in the Budget.

The massive £3.5bn tax cut for working people delivers:

• The biggest ever single uplift in the tax threshold
• A personal allowance of £9,205 in April 2013
• 21 million working people getting an extra £220 tax cut
• Brings the total tax cut for basic rate tax payers to £550
• Brings the total number of people lifted out of tax to 2 million.