News
A round up of national and international news

Select committee news
A round up of select committee activity

Month in review
Edward Davie looks back at the month in politics
Edward Davie

The Oakley Column
Robin Oakley's monthly take on the political scene
Robin Oakley

Queen of questions
Sam Macrory talks to Kirsty Wark about the media, politics, and that holiday with Jack McConnell
Sam Macrory

Able deputies?
With Gordon Brown’s crowning as the new leader of the Labour Party all but a certainty, the real interest lies in who will line up as his deputy. Daniel Forman assesses the field bidding to succeed John Prescott
Daniel Forman

The Blair pitch project
As David Cameron approaches a year as leader of the Conservative Party, John Rentoul, a biographer of Tony Blair, compares Cameron’s achievements with Blair’s own first year as Labour leader
John Rentoul

The future’s bright?
They put down a considerably ambitious marker two years ago, but now it is time for the Liberal Democrat Orange bookers to raise both their own and the third party’s game, writes Sam Macrory
Sam Macrory

An unsettling climate
With the CBI annual conference just weeks away, John Cridland, the CBI’s deputy director general, warns Edward Davie that the economy does not thrive on "political instability"
Edward Davie

Coals to New Delhi?
Standing on the brink of becoming a world superpower, India has caught the attention of countries across the globe. Sam Macrory discussed the challenges this brings with Kamalesh Sharma, Indian High Commissioner to London
Sam Macrory

Year of the dragon
Zhang Lirong paints a positive picture of 21st century China, and argues that the fast-growing development of the country offers huge opportunities for the UK
Zhang Lirong

Economical with the truth?
Gordon Brown’s record at the Treasury is beginning to unravel, says Alan Duncan, who sets out the Conservative alternative for business and the economy
Alan Duncan

Eastern promise
Vince Cable assesses whether energy insecurity, or the economic growth of China and India, represents the bigger challenge to British business, and asks how we can best adapt
Dr Vince Cable

The other side of the coin
In the rush to embrace the economic opportunities offered by China and India, the world must not overlook the struggles that both nations have with human rights issues, wealth distribution, democracy and climate change, warns Harry Cohen
Harry Cohen

Competitive environment
With the publication of Sir Nicholas Stern’s review on the economics of climate change, the financial benefits of reducing greenhouse gases have been thrust centre-stage.Jim Haywood and Leah Davis highlight how companies can gain competitive advantage by making the most of lower emissions
Jim Haywood and Leah Davis

Who means business?
Ahead of the CBI annual conference, Mark Prisk makes the case for supporting businesses at the smaller end of the scale, and explains the setting up of his Small Business Task Force
Mark Prisk

Sheridan’s rivals
Tommy Sheridan talks exclusively to Sam Macrory about his ongoing battle with the News of the World, his fallout with the SSP, and his hopes for next May’s Holyrood elections
Sam Macrory

Pots of fools’ gold
Paul Hutcheon takes on the ambitious task of predicting the outcome of the Scottish elections, and suggests that a bizarre ‘rainbow coalition’ may emerge from the results
Paul Hutcheon

A stable diet
Jack McConnell argues that the current devolution arrangement is the best way to create the most positive future for Scotland
Jack McConnell

Minority report
Annabel Goldie says the Conservatives are quite prepared to play a part in a minority government, but warns that a referendum on Scottish independence is not on her agenda
Annabel Goldie

Above the mêlée
As the other parties squabble amongst themselves, the Liberal Democrats will continue to fight for Scotland, writes Nicol Stephen
Nicol Stephen

Independent thinkers
Only the SNP is capable of beating Labour in next May’s elections, says Nicola Sturgeon, who calls on Scots to vote for a government fully committed to success for Scotland
Nicola Sturgeon

Alert to a safe London
The transport network can resist terrorist attacks and will benefit from the introduction of green taxes, former minister Nick Raynsford tells Edward Davie
Edward Davie

Route of the problem
A wide range of bold initiatives underpin the government’s plans for Britain’s transport network, says Stephen Ladyman
Stephen Ladyman

Camera obscurer
An over-reliance on mechanical devices like cameras, and a lack of officers in police cars on the roads, have alienated the law-abiding motoring majority, fears Owen Paterson
Owen Paterson

A road by any other name
Unless viable and affordable public transport alternatives are put in place, the car will always remain the favoured option of most people, writes Paul Rowen
Paul Rowen

On a wing and a prayer?
David Learmount assesses the security risks faced by the aviation industry, and questions how effectively it has moved to address these dangers
David Learmount is an aviation operations safety and

Tunnel visions
Clinton Leeks extols the benefits that Crossrail would bring to London, and looks forward to the publication of key reports on the UK’s transport infrastructure
Clinton Leeks

Naval gazing
The days of Rule Britannia may be long gone, but Gwyn Prosser believes we should be concerned by our decline as a maritime nation
Gwyn Prosser

Vehicle for change
Technology alone won’t get us off the carbon emissions hook, says David Banister – travel behaviour has to change too
David Banister

Patrolling the culture beat
With the Olympics to prepare for and the nationwide switchover to digital television to manage, John Whittingdale and his committee have a full-time job on their hands, writes Sam Macrory
Sam Macrory

Freedom to think
Lord Turner tells Edward Davie how an expert commission can promote public debate better than oppositional politics
Edward Davie

Good news for retiring types
James Purnell looks at some of the defining features of the pensions white paper, and argues that the government has put together a set of proposals that enjoy a broad consensus
James Purnell

The perfect save?
While the Conservatives broadly support the direction of the government’s proposed pensions reform, Philip Hammond says serious question marks remain over its commitment to reform public sector pensions
Philip Hammond

Plotting a new links course
The government has got it wrong in deciding not to restore the link between pensions and earnings until 2012 at the earliest, writes David Laws
David Laws

Rough justice
Andrew Parr and Peter Humphrey explain the workings of the Pensions Action Group, and question how such a pensions crisis could arise in 21st century Britain
Andrew Parr and Peter Humphrey

Giant steps for tiny feet
The plight of the world’s street children is symptomatic of a wider problem, writes Andrew Mitchell
Andrew Mitchell

Recycle race
Faced with the country’s toughest target, Barnet Council introduced compulsory recycling in March 2005 – becoming the first local authority in the UK to take this step. Matthew Offord explains the thinking behind adopting this solution
Matthew Offord

Je ne regrette: Bryan Gould
In charge of Labour’s 1987 election campaign, Bryan Gould is credited with pioneering ‘focus group’ policy formulation. He ran against John Smith for party leader in 1992 and has subsequently returned to his native New Zealand to work as an academic. He was talking to Edward Davie
Edward Davie