Following the decision by the Treasury select committee to delay an inquiry into the five economic tests for euro entry, Liberal Democrat committee member David Laws has made public a series of emails by department officials concerning inquiries about the tests.

The emails, requested under the 1998 Data Protection Act, describe Laws's questions as "difficult" and "whiskery".

The inquiry into the economic tests will now take place after they have been conducted - prompting claims that the chancellor "leaned" on committee chairman and Labour MP for Dumbarton John McFall.

The Telegraph reveals that Gordon Brown "secretly encouraged" Labour whips to sabotage Commons modernisation because he feared Robin Cook's plans would give select committees new powers to give the Treasury a rough ride.