International news
A round up of international news

The Oakley Column
Robin Oakley's take on politics
Robin Oakley

Voxpop
The third party has an environmental record to be proud of, but a lack of courage in their convictions may prove costly in the political long game, writes Martyn Williams
Sir Robert Worcester

The month in review
Edward Davie looks back at the last month in politics
Edward Davie

A Caledonian crossroads
In an exclusive interview with Edward Davie, Scotland’s first minister sets out the battle lines for the Scottish parliamentary elections of 2007
Edward Davie

Fortune favours the brave
Labour has an environmental record it can be be proud of, but a failure to adopt truly bold policies will tarnish this government’s legacy, warnsSimon Retallack
Simon Retallack

The green rinse brigade
The third party has an environmental record to be proud of, but a lack of courage in their convictions may prove costly in the political long game, writes Martyn Williams
Sam Macrory

The grass is always greener?
The third party has an environmental record to be proud of, but a lack of courage in their convictions may prove costly in the political long game, writes Martyn Williams
Martyn Williams

The loudest of little voices
From the war on terror and ID cards to foreign prisoners and civil liberties, Shami Chakrabarti tells Edward Davie that she will take on a government that she compares to a "baying mob"
Edward Davie

Passport to freedom
The freedom to live without fear is one of the most valuable civil liberties we enjoy, and the National Identity Scheme can secure that freedom, writes Joan Ryan
Joan Ryan

Baling out a leaky boat
Government efforts to tackle crime and illegal immigration are confused, flawed and rushed, and the Conservatives would drop the ID card scheme when in government, says Dominic Grieve
Dominic Grieve

A cold comfort blanket
The ID card scheme represents the worst of Labour’s ‘big government’ catch-all solutions, argues Nick Clegg
Nick Clegg

The secret policeman’s ball
The ID card proposals represent a piece of legislation that is expensive, intrusive and patently un-British, writes Henry Porter, who calls on the people to speak out against "this obnoxious scheme"
Henry Porter

Mistaken identity
Edgar A Whitley explains how his academic study of the technology behind identity cards swiftly turned into a political football
Dr Edgar A Whitley

Cards shuffled
Brian Collins looks at technological aspects of the ID card scheme
Prof Brian Collins

Estate of the nation
Wayne Hemingway tells Sam Macrory why housebuilders should show designers a little more respect, and why the UK’s whole planning ethos needs a major makeover
Sam Macrory

Stand up and deliver
Caroline Spelman bemoans the government’s ‘top down’ approach to regeneration, and vows that the Conservatives would give people ownership of local schemes
Caroline Spelman

Slogan’s run
Andrew Stunell calls for action not words from the government, and questions whether a new minister for social exclusion will really tackle the problem
Andrew Stunell

The key to the inner city
Iain Duncan Smith explains the work of the social justice policy group, and argues that lessons can be learned from the ways in which grassroots poverty-fighters deal with the causes of community breakdown
Iain Duncan Smith

A lesson in tough love
In an exclusive interview,Big Issue founder John Bird tells Edward Davie why the "homelessness industry" is still going strong, and calls on the government to put resources into ending social exclusion
Edward Davie

Boxing cleverer
With sport increasingly recognised for its wider powers to bring about change, Lord Carter of Coles explores its potential to contribute to creating stronger, safer communities
Lord Carter

Age old problem
Lena Dahlberg highlights a new study that will determine the extent to which older people are socially excluded – and the measures that can alleviate their predicament
Dr Lena Dahlberg

Overhead protection unit
Vladimír Špidla explains how the Social Protection Committee is working towards eradicating poverty across Europe
Vladimír Špidla

Better bytes with Auntie
BBC News Interactive chief Peter Clifton tells Sam Macrory of the global markets he serves – and why British licence fee-payers shouldn’t begrudge it
Sam Macrory

Safety net
Jim Gamble tells the Parliamentary Monitor why he will be taking a holistic approach to tackling child sex abuse
Jim Gamble

Cast of thousands
Podcasting and webcasting are being tentatively embraced by the political world – and the speed with which politicians master these new techniques could determine future election success, writes Olly Kendall
Olly Kendall

Switched off at the top
Derek Wyatt charts the government’s unhappy relationship with e-learning, but suggests missed opportunities are not yet completely lost
Derek Wyatt

Web of intrigue
The problems of the internet are not new, suggests Joan Bertin – let’s focus on the positive effects of global communications
Joan Bertin

Reeling in the phish
Jerry Fishenden reminds internet-users of the need for constant vigilance in the face of sophisticated cyber-crime
Jerry Fishenden

Advert reaction
Andrew Brown considers how best to regulate advertising in the digital age, and hopes that EU legislation will not hinder this challenge
Andrew Brown

The urbane inquisitor
In the first of a regular series looking at the work of select committees, Defence committee chairman James Arbuthnot tells Sam Macrory why it’s the best job he’s ever had
Sam Macrory

Across a blue pond
Irwin Stelzer sees evidence that policy thinking on the British and American right may be starting to converge
Irwin Stelzer

A liberal Lucky Jim
Iain Hollingshead recalls his stint as a researcher at Westminster, and gives the inside story of life as a wide-eyed young man strolling the corridors of power
Iain Hollingshead

Je ne regrette? Lord Smith
Lord (Chris) Smith is the director of the Clore leadership programme. He was the first openly gay MP, and the only one to say he was HIV positive. For unrelated reasons he lost his position as culture, media and sport secretary in 2001. He was talking to Edward Davie
Edward Davie