Unison has criticised communities secretary, Eric Pickles, for wrongly claiming that the local government pension scheme costs every household more than £300 every year. It actually costs the average household £67 a year, or 5p in every £1 paid in council tax.

Mr Pickles made the mistake after an incorrect press release was issued by Waste Watch, a Sky News blog. UNISON claim the error was made because councils get just 25% of their funding from council tax, with the other 75% coming from other sources such as business rates and local government grants.