News
The Week
National and International news
Week in Westminster
Businesslike Brown
Prudence was the theme for this year’s Budget. With an election expected and still angling for the top job, Gordon Brown left his licence to thrill at home, writes John Pienaar
John Pienaar
Commons
Commons Gallery
Daniel Forman reports on the week’s key developments in the Commons
Daniel Forman
Ping-pong purgatory
With his diary turned upside down, Nigel Evans develops a loathing for his office chair
Nigel Evans
Lords
Lords Gallery
Andrew Evans rounds up the week's developments in the House of Lords
Andrew Evans
In bullish form
Lord Burns travels to Madrid then takes a ringside seat for the Budget
Lord Burns
Cover feature: Lords reform
Between a rock and another place
For some it was one of the Lords’ finest hours; for others evidence of an anachronistic chamber in need of urgent reform. What is clear is that the struggle between the two Houses over the Terror Bill has thrust the role and composition of the upper chamber back into the spotlight, writes Andrew Porter
Andrew Porter
Interview
Keeping the kids united
Now a big noise in PR, Colin Byrne helped mastermind Labour’s return to power.But as Damian Green reports, the former punk still hears the word on the street
Damian Green
Policy focus: The Budget
Adding sparkle to stability
Tough long-term decisions taken over eight years in office mean that this Labour government has the solid economic foundations on which to build a vibrant and prosperous Britain, writes Paul Boateng
Paul Boateng
Waste not, want not
Behind Brown’s budget lies yet more unjustified tax rises, whereas the Conservatives would strip away this government’s wasteful spending and ensure real value for money, writes Oliver Letwin
Oliver Letwin
Time to get tough
Gordon Brown’s Budget merely provided short term fixes and no answers to the fundamental economic questions that won’t go away, argues Vince Cable
Vince Cable
A nest-egg from the ninth
Beyond the headline-grabbing Budget giveaways, John McFall sees wider global challenges addressed by chancellor Gordon Brown
John McFall
An elephant under the table
Behind Gordon Brown’s confident words lies a financial black hole which will have to be filled sooner rather than later, argues Ruth Lea
Ruth Lea
Special report: Religion
Filling the God-shaped hole
Britain in 2005 has a great spiritual yearning, says Ruth Gledhill
Ruth Gledhill
Feedback: Rural Affairs
Fielding questions
Looking back at our policy focus on rural affairs in last week’s magazine, David Fursdon assesses why the countryside is making waves in Westminster
David Fursdon
Obituaries
A sporting life
obituary: lord sheppard of liverpool
Lord Graham
Flower of Scotland
Tam Dalyell MP remembersBaroness Strange
Tam Dalyell
Elections
Electionwatch
A round of elections around the world
Dialogue
Dialogue
subject: Local income tax
Edward Davey and Lord Lucas
Other
Cobbett’s Corner
Chris Moncrieff takes a look at recent events
Chris Moncrieff
Backtrack...
This week in history
