Lunchtime news April 17

Today’s papers are full of yesterday’s increase in inflation and some are now predicting two more increases in interest rates.

According to The Guardian, Shaks Ghosh, the former head of Crisis, is to become chief executive of the Private Equity Foundation, a charity set up by the controversial private equity industry with £20m to invest in organisations tackling social exclusion.

Defend Council Housing has launched an online petition [628 signatures so far] on the Downing Street website demanding that the government implements the fourth option of direct investment in council housing.