The Agenda
A round-up of forthcoming news and events

Two Scots to cross swords
Will Alex Salmond's fragile position as first minister of Scotland limit his ability to pick fights with Gordon Brown? James Kirkup investigates
James Kirkup

Commons Gallery
Daniel Forman reports on the week's key events in the Commons Chamber
Daniel Forman

The seven per cent solution
In a week when he learns that trust in politicians has fallen to an all-time low, Don Foster takes heart in the enthusiasm of Youth Parliaments
Don Foster

Lords Gallery
Andrew Evans reports on key proceedings in the House of Lords
Andrew Evans

Life as a looser Lord
From the reading of speeches to socialising without a tie, Lord Freeman opts to go with the flow
Lord Freeman

Tackling the trust paradox
Parliament is a robust institution, better equipped than ever to hold ministers to account, says Jack Straw, but the popular perception is rather different. Here, he examines what can be done to empower the House of Commons and connect it with the voters it represents
Jack Straw

The ghost in the machine
After The End of History came The Death of Economics - Frank Field meets the author of a groundbreaking book that challenged the notion that economics alone govern human behaviour
Frank Field

Sterling effort
Economic crises undid Labour governments of the 20th century, but a combination of domestic caution and good fortune globally won Tony Blair and Gordon Brown a reputation for competence, finds William Keegan
William Keegan

Early action boosts life chances
Pat McFadden shares his excitement over a pioneering project to tackle social exclusion early in life
Pat McFadden

The original building block
Educational inequality entrenches income inequality, says Oliver Heald
Oliver Heald

Bootstraps before benefits
Danny Alexander sees opportunity as a better way to conquer social exclusion than dependency
Danny Alexander

Wake up a sleeping partner
It's time to leverage dormant assets for the cash-strapped third sector, says Sir Ronald Cohen
Sir Ronald Cohen

Capitalism with a conscience
Social enterprise is as good for the economy as it is for the community, says Baroness Thornton
Baroness Thornton

Imagination in need of ignition
You can lead a horse to the water of the internet, but you can't make it surf, explains Andrew Miller
Andrew Miller

Old and in the way
Our neglect of isolated elderly people shames us, says Paul Burstow
Paul Burstow

Capacity concentrates the mind
Phyllis Starkey says householders may have to get used to sorting their waste more carefully
Phyllis Starkey

A lesson from the locals
Scotland has shown how PR can rekindle voters' interest in local government, says Hywel Nelson
Hywel Nelson

My fascinating friend
Following last week's obituary of Lord Weatherill, Sir Michael Spicer offers some personal memories
Sir Michael Spicer

Don't let the sun go down on me
Michael Connarty urgest support for his efforts to ensure the extension of copyright payments beyond 50 years for musicians and producers
Michael Connarty

Cobbett's Corner
Chris Moncrieff takes a wry look at politics
Chris Moncrieff

Ulster unmasked
Michael Mates is convinced by the verdict of a veteran Northern Ireland civil servant on the heroes and villans of the peace process
Michael Mates

Backtracks...
...this week in history

The political promenader
Sam Macrory hears how the cut and thrust of political theatre beguiled Telegraph columnist Jonathan Isaby at an early age