News
A round up of Westminster's latest going-ons

The Oakley Column
Robin Oakley's take on political events
Robin Oakley

Month in review
Richard Hall's take on the last month in politics
Daniel Forman

Grassroots manoeuvres
Sam Macrory catches up with the Conservative leader in his Oxfordshire constituency, and is given an insight into how Britain might look under a Cameron premiership
Sam Macrory

Hilary’s terms
Strongly tipped to be the next deputy leader of the Labour Party, Hilary Benn discusses the challenges that the party faces with Edward Davie
Edward Davie

When trust funds run dry
In just 10 years New Labour has fallen from a wave of unparalleled popularity to a place of real contempt in the eyes of much of the electorate, writes Andrew Gilligan, who argues that only a transfer of power from the ‘rulers to the ruled’ will reverse this trend
Andrew Gilligan

Rolling with the punches
Richard Hall compares David Cameron’s attempts to remould the Conservative Party with Tony Blair’s makeover of Labour, and assesses their responses to disgruntled elements within their parties
Richard Hall

Onlines of battle
Andrew Alexander reports on the Liberal Democrats’ latest attempts to surf the technological wave in an effort to engage with the electorate
Andrew Alexander

Terminal talks?
Sam Macrory talks to Ryanair chief executive Michael O’Leary, whose unique style of diplomacy, and determination to prove the chancellor wrong, guarantee him a high profile in the debate on climate change
Sam Macrory

Building up to Bali
David Miliband explains why 2007 represents a crucial year for tackling climate change
David Miliband

Clear green water
Green taxes need to be part of an overall green strategy, writes Peter Ainsworth, who believes the electorate are ready to pay the price to save the planet
Peter Ainsworth

Taxing times
Ignore the hot air from the government and the Tories, the Liberal Democrats remain the sole party prepared to take the tough choices needed to reach crucial green targets, writes Chris Huhne
Chris Huhne

English as apple pie
Sue Clifford and Angela King celebrate the humble English apple and its historic role atthe cusp of nature and culture
Sue Clifford and Angela King

Fields of war
Sam Bond reports on the case of Georgina Downs, whose tireless campaign against the government’s approach to pesticides has prompted a judicial review
Sam Bond

Prophetic poetics
Benjamin Zephaniah, Britain’s most prominent black poet, talks to Sam Macrory about racism, multiculturalism and politics
Sam Macrory

Culture shift
Once derided for suggesting that multiculturalism was not working, Lord Tebbit argues that it is time to reclaim and defend our Judeo-Christian heritage
Lord Tebbit

Beyond the blame culture
It is too easy to blame racial exclusion and disharmony on multiculturalism, writes Lord Ouseley, who argues that it is the action and inaction of the last 50 years that has caused the problem – action that everyone must strive to reverse
Lord Ouseley

Message of good hope
Compared to the racial integration that former cabinet minister Paul Boateng has witnessed in South Africa, Britain, he believes, should be proud of the way it has embraced diversity and globalisation
Paul Boateng

Best of British?
In an effort to move foward the "stale" debate on integration, Sunder Katwala argues that the time has come for British people to define their rights and responsibilities as citizens
Sunder Katwala

Lancing the boil
In assessing the rise of the BNP, Ivo Mosley, the grandson of Oswald Mosley, offers an impassioned defence of true multiculturalism
Ivo Mosley

Vision beyond an ‘ism’
When it became apparent that the 7/7 bombers came from his Leeds constituency, Greg Mulholland found himself at the heart of the ‘distracting’ debate on multiculturalism
Greg Mulholland

An inspector calls
From 1994 to 2000 Chris Woodhead was the controversial chief inspector of schools in England. Now he tells Edward Davie why neither Gordon Brown or David Cameron impress him as guardians of education
Edward Davie

Stream test
To avoid young people become disillusioned at school, classes must be set be ability, argues Nick Gibb
Nick Gibb

Leagues apart
It’s time to reform the curriculum, look beyond league tables and reward teachers for their invaluable contribution, says Sarah Teather
Sarah Teather

Needs must
Sir Bob Balchin calls for an immediate reform of special educational needs, and outlines the measures he would take to improve a system that has become "unnecessarily protracted and adversial"
Sir Bob Balchin

Drama lessons
Ann McManus, the writer behind the BBC’s school drama Waterloo Road, discusses the motivation behind writing the programme and the positive message she intends it to convey
Ann McManus

Crafting chances
John Hayes calls for a return to the principles of skills being passed down from master to apprentice
John Hayes

In for the skill
Stephen Beswick calls for the skills agenda to be grasped much earlier than at college or university
Stephen Beswick

Honest John
John Denham tells Sam Macrory of his hopes of reforming the way select committees work
Sam Macrory

Je ne regrette: Ron Davies
As Tony Blair’s first Wales secretary Ron Davies is credited with being the "architect of devolution." He resigned from government in 1998 after a "moment of madness" on Clapham Common. He is standing as an independent in May’s assembly election and was talking to Edward Davie
Edward Davie