Westminster News

International news

Public services News

Devolved and local News

The Trident decision
The decision on replacing Trident is set to be one of the most intriguing of this parliament, writes Robin Oakley.
Robin Oakley

Battle of the Davids
In the 'battle of the Davids', Sir Robert Worcester finds Cameron ahead with the voters but trailing Gordon Brown.
Sir Robert Worcester

The month in review

Edward Davie

Pick 'n' mix
Parents are likely to be dissatisfied with the government’s proposals for school selection, argues Richard Garner
Richard Garner

Age of opportunity
Freedom for schools and teachers, and power for parents, means better standards for all, says Ruth Kelly.
Ruth Kelly

Setting schools free
Admissions policies should be decided by headteachers, not ministers, argues Nick Gibb MP
Nick Gibb

Good cop bad cop
Ministers’ proposals for academic selection will pit local schools against each other, warns Edward Davey MP
Edward Davey

Have faith
Students at the new Hindu school in West London will be educated about other religions, insists Anil Bhanot
Anil Bhanot

Beyond belief
Labour MP Lynne Jones explains her opposition to the expansion of faith schools.
Dr Lynne Jones

A future for teenage mothers
Schools’ attitudes need to change if teenage mothers are to stay in education, explains Dr Nona Dawson
Nona Dawson

Raising the bar
The education system continues to fail black boys, says Sir Bill Morris, and it is time ministers took specialist advice.
Sir Bill Morris

Class rules
City academies are on the front line in tackling social deprivation through education, insists Mike Butler
Mike Butler

Watch with mother
Clare Turnham explains the advantages home schooling brings for both parents and children
Claire Turnham

Participation and progression
Encouraging girls to take up sports bring many more benefits than just good health, suggests Dame Tanni Grey-Thompson
Dame Tanni Grey-Thompson

Stamp of approval
Increased competition in the letter business can only be good news for Royal Mail, argues Ian Senior – but not yet.
Ian Senior

Going the extra mile
The New Year heralds the start of a new era for postal services. Barry Gardiner maintains that increased competition, introduced and regulated by Postcomm, could open up new opportunities for the sector
Barry Gardiner

A right royal mess?
After years of underfunding the Royal Mail is in no fit state to compete, says Norman Lamb.
Norman Lamb

Fit to deliver
Royal Mail must be given the freedom to compete with new companies entering the letters market, insists Adam Crozier
Adam Crozier

Rural exclusion
Countryside communities need more than fine words if social exclusion is to be adequately tackled, writes Olivia Cooper.
Olivia Cooper

A growth and stability pact
This government is committed to tackling social exclusion wherever it occurs, insists Jim Knight MP
Jim Knight

Deaf to the rural voice
Although there is now greater investment in public services, the effect is yet to filter through to the countryside communities, warns Norman Baker MP
Norman Baker

The forgotten poor
Ministers are paying insufficient attention to the needs of those in rural areas, argues Jim Paice.
Jim Paice

A bitter harvest
Rural Britain must make minority groups welcome or it will lose out, warns Simon Woolley
Simon Woolley

Wild goose chase?
It is the trade in birds, not their migration, that is causing the spread of bird flu, argue Diana Bell, Dawn Wilkinson and Andrew A. Cunningham.
Dr Dawn Wilkinson and Dr Diana Bell

Bird flu hysteria
The government must resist media-inspired hysteria on bird flu, says Maria Ball.
Maria Ball

Opium and heroin facts
Philip Wellman and Sally Dawson investigate the supply and demand of opium and heroin worldwide
Information compiled by Phillip Wellman and Sally Dawson

The great train robbery?
The Railtrack debacle has undermined the savings and pensions of real people, John Blundell reminds ministers
John Blundell

Return of the Toff?
David Cameron’s background need not hold him back from the Tory leadership, argues Michael White – it may even work in his favour.
Michael White

Redressing the balance
Although Liberal Democrats have attracted record levels of support among ethnic minority communities, action is needed to ensure this is reflected in Parliament, writes Cllr Parmjit Singh Gill
Cllr Parmjit Singh Gill

Minorities, myths and misconceptions
Councils have a key role to play in promoting community cohesion, says Dennis Reed
Dennis Reed

Sticking plaster solutions
Borrowing against future aid budgets is not a sustainable solution to end global poverty, says David Woodward.
David Woodward

A question of control
Access to emergency contraception and information will help reduce the rate of unplanned pregnancy, says Laura Moffatt MP
Laura Moffatt

Bringing the marginalised into the mainstream
The government’s paper on helping children with learning disabilities goes some way to addressing the problems faced, but much more is needed, writesTom Clarke MP
Tom Clarke

Je ne regrette? - John Hemming
Entrepreneur John Hemming was elected Liberal Democrat MP for Birmingham Yardley in 2005 on his sixth attempt. It then emerged he was about to have a baby with his personal assistant and fellow councillor, Emily Cox, despite being married. Wife Christine then revealed he had had a number of affairs. He was talking to Edward Davie