Last chance saloon
Declan McVeigh looks ahead to the last conference season before next year's expected general election and wonders what challenges await the party leaders as they head to the seaside
Declan McVeigh

Collectivism still counts
Ahead of next week's Trade Union Congress, Michael White explains why Labour and the unions must co-operate to restore the social democratic progress that stalled in the '70s
Michael White

Nursing Hearts back to health
Even 25 years of being an MP could not prepare George Foulkes for life as chairman of a Scottish premier league football club and, as he explains, the thrills, trials and tribulations have proved an exhausting if enthralling experience
Rt Hon George Foulkes MP

Grassroots mown over by greed
As football becomes increasingly commercial, with the big clubs and the top players accumulating wealth at the expense of those lower down the pyramid, it is the next generation of Wayne Rooneys who will lose out, explains Gavin Hamilton
Gavin Hamilton

Protecting players, caring for careers
Away from the millionaires of the Premier League, the career of a footballer can be short and unsure, so the PFA plays a vital role in helping players find further employment, as explained by Gordon Taylor
Gordon Taylor

FA keeping football sweet
Phil Smith shows how the FA is looking at the most efficient and equitable ways of distributing the vast amount of money that is flowing into football
Phil Smith

More than just a game
Alastair Bennett reports on how the Football Foundation is innovating and investing to bring football to vulnerable and less privileged groups, and shows why sport can be more than just a recreational activity
Alastair Bennett

Stadium of delights
Michael Cunnah reveals how the new Wembley Stadium is forging the way for regeneration in the local area and boosting London’s bid to host the 2012 Olympic games
Michael Cunnah

Having a ball
Sport is a key way of getting young people active and off the streets, so Sanjeev Bhaskar explains why he is supporting a Prince’s Trust sporting campaign which aims to bring communities together
Sanjeev Bhaskar

Closing in on goal of full employment
Andrew Smith explains how and why the government is taking the New Deal forward
Rt Hon Andrew Smith MP

Missing the target
The New Deal is far from being the success that Labour proclaims, and the government’s whole welfare-for-work approach is in urgent need of reform, argues David Willetts
David Willetts MP

A raw deal?
The New Deal has struggled to achieve any real success, and its wasted resources have meant that those who are harder to place in employment have been all but forgotten, argues Paul Holmes
Paul Holmes MP

Is Britain really working?
The government revels in the praise of its employment record, but instead of resting on their laurels ministers should be addressing unemployment in the areas where it remains a very real problem, states Andy Westwood
Andy Westwood

Shedding light on the stereotype
Earl Baldwin explains why the publication of recently unearthed documents makes the Baldwin Papers a crucial addition for those interested in both unravelling the enigma of Stanley Baldwin and in the history of British politics
Earl Baldwin

Britain’s imperial shame
Prolonged debate over the metric system has left a confused Britain lagging behind the rest of the world and, as Lord Howe of Aberavon argues, failure to kick the imperial habit is harming our business competitiveness and our children’s education
Rt Hon Lord Howe of Aberavon

Helping the hidden homeless
It is wrong for government policy on homelessness to focus on rough sleeping, forgetting the thousands of unofficial homeless people living in temporary accommodation, argues Geoffrey Clifton-Brown
Geoffrey Clifton-Brown MP

Pressure on Parliament to perform
Ashley Weinberg reports on a study of how MPs perceive that the changed Commons hours have impacted upon their health and ability to make decisions
Dr Ashley Weinberg

Germany calling, Britain stalling
Gisela Stuart meets Germany’s ambassador in London and investigates the odd Anglo-German relationship which sees two surprisingly similar countries occasionally admire, frequently distrust but always remain confused by each other
Gisela Stuart MP