News: Devolved
News round up

News: Westminster
Westminster news round up

News: International
A round up of international news

The Oakley Column
Robin Oakley's Westminster round up
Robin Oakley

Voxpop: Sir Robert Worcester
What did the local elections tell us about the next election? Not a damn thing, writes Sir Robert Worcester
Sir Robert Worcerster

Month in review
Edward Davie reviews the month in politics
Edward Davie

When sport is an afterthought
The FA’s director of football development Sir Trevor Brooking tells Sam Macrory that the government is missing open goals when it comes to reshaping sport in the UK
Sam Macrory

Out of time
The new generation of Labour high-fliers will no doubt have their eyes on seats around the cabinet table, but as Richard Hall discovers, the lessons of history show that a different future may await
Richard Hall

Changing of the guard
The new breed of Conservatives are career politicians who believe they are on the cusp of victory. Craig Hoy gives the lowdown on Cameron’s inner circle
Craig Hoy

A flag of convenience?
Bruised by a series of high-profile resignations, Lib Dem politicos will be wary of nailing their colours too firmly to Sir Ming’s mast, reportsSam Macrory
Sam Macrory

Rebel with a cause
Tony Robinson tells Sam Macrory why he believes a sea change in attitudes is needed to ensure that care for the elderly is not akin to ‘institutionalised cruelty’
Sam Macrory

Painting the bigger picture
While admitting that financial pressures will cause some anxiety, Lord Warner argues that the government’s programme of reform for the NHS is making real progress
Lord Warner

Delicate operation
Labour is no longer the party of the NHS, says Andrew Lansley, who sets out the three Conservative Party steps that would balance the health service’s books
Andrew Lansley

A shot in the arm
The Liberal Democrats would restore local accountability to the health service and liberate it from Whitehall meddling, says Steve Webb
Steve Webb

Cash: the clinician’s curse
Kevin Barron explains the thrust of the health committee’s new inquiry into NHS deficits, which hopes to get to the bottom of financial mismanagement and funding anomalies
Kevin Barron

Security without stigma
Lynne Jones reviews the latest arguments on mental health legislation reform, and calls on the government to give more priority to better care rather than pandering to stigma
Lynne Jones

Botched surgery
Karen Jennings argues that the government’s constant reforms to the NHS have only caused instability, and calls for a period of slowing-down and taking stock
Karen Jennings

In need of a lift
Brian Johns explains why key partnerships between the private and public sectors are shaping health care for the better
Brian Johns

A superbug’s life
Simon Foster assesses the struggle between man and the superbug, and asks whether MRSA is here to stay
Professor Simon J. Foster

Privately speaking
Dr Ian Gibson argues that private sector investment in the health service is draining away the value of the NHS
Dr Ian Gibson

Patronage and pedagogy
Edward Davie talks to former education secretary Baroness Morris, who explains her qualms about structural change in education and the power it invests in a handful of wealthy patrons
Edward Davie

The urgency of upskilling
Increased social mobility and the creation of a highly skilled workforce are the goals of the government’s further education reforms, writes Bill Rammell
Bill Rammell

Keep the faith
David Willetts wishes the prime minister had been bolder with his education reforms, and argues that faith schools make a vital contribution to British education
David Willetts

Opportunities knocked
Sarah Teather argues that not only is the government’s education bill seriously flawed, but its earlier dismissal of proposed A-level reforms was a missed opportunity
Sarah Teather

A new school of thought
Dame Angela Rumbold enthuses about the success of the City Academy scheme, and explains why this new approach to education is paying dividends
Dame Angela Rumbold

Reading between the lines
With twice as many disabled people out of work as the national average, Rory Cobb argues that extending their access to qualifications must be made a national priority
Rory Cobb

Building with new buddies
Richard Bowker explains how Partnerships for Schools is delivering new schools through public-private partnerships
Richard Bowker

Encore for play
It is our duty as adults to provide children with the chance to play and explore the world in safety, argues Helen Goodman
Helen Goodman

The price is right
Craig Hoy interviews VisitBritain chairman Lord Marshall, who has a fight on his hands to persuade would-be visitors that holidaying in Britain represents good value
Craig Hoy

More than just Cool Britannia
Last year saw a record number of visitors travel to Britain, but, as Shaun Woodward explains, 21st century tourism is a complex blend of economic and environmental management
Shaun Woodward

Sweeter clarity
Until there is real cohesion between the various bodies that promote tourism in the UKthe nation will continue to undersell itself, says Malcolm Moss
Malcolm Moss

Seeing the light
Paul Holmes argues the case for England to have its own tourism agency, and pledges the Liberal Democrats to the enticing prospect of double summertime
Paul Holmes

Crude awakening
Edward Leigh calls time on the young Britons whose drunken exploits abroad tarnish our reputation and overburden consular staff
Edward Leigh

A beach too far
The people of Burma live under one of the most brutal military dictatorships in the world, says Glenys Kinnock, who appeals to ordinary citizens not to holiday there
Glenys Kinnock

A sporting chance
Lord Pendry argues that the intrinsic links between sport and tourism mean that the two should be given a distinct voice, away from the DCMS
Lord Pendry

Expect the best, prepare for the worst
Tobias Ellwood, whose brother was killed in the 2002 Bali bomb, calls for a formal review of the way British embassies, consulates and rapid-response teams react to major incidents abroad
Tobias Ellwood

Tour of duty
David Weston explains why sustainability is essential for the long term survival of international tourism
David Weston

Plan B or bust?
The Northern Irish Assembly has been given another chance to agree on a power-sharing deal, but as Paul Bew reports, there is good reason to remain pessimistic about progress
Professor Paul Bew

E finita per Silvio?
With Italy’s new prime minister Romano Prodi set to announce his cabinet in the coming days, Franco Pavoncello looks at how the big parties – and personalities – are set to realign
Professor Franco Pavoncello

Lessons of history
Even if there had been no Chernobyl, nuclear power would be a bad idea, argues Blake Lee-Harwood
Blake Lee-Harwood

Over-reactions
Technically unsafe and incompetently managed as it was, Chernobyl must not be allowed to prejudice energy policy in the 21st century, says Sir Bernard Ingham
Sir Bernard Ingham

Je Ne Regrette: John Redwood
John Redwood is head of the Conservatives’ economic policy review group and served in John Major’s cabinet. In 1995 he unsuccessfully challenged Major for the leadership of the Conservative Party to become prime minister. He was talking to Edward Davie
Edward Davie