crippling

But his critics fear he is doing irreparable harm to the country and overstepping his powers - crippling important government functions and perhaps permanently reshaping the presidency in the process.

Tax rises in October's Budget are "crippling" her salon business, she said, and the extra £23,000 a year imposed by the chancellor could prove the final nail in the coffin.

Since Bekki Thomas was a teenager, she has experienced crippling pain and chronic fatigue that lasted weeks at a time.

Speaking about the incident on ITV's The Jonathan Ross Show, Flintoff said he had struggled with "crippling anxiety" in the wake of the crash and has suffered from flashbacks and nightmares.

In Number 10 and Number 11 there is an acknowledgement that the costs of energy for industry can be crippling.