News
Westminster round up

Westminster Village
A light-hearted take on politics

The Oakley column
Robin Oakley reviews the month in politics
Robin Oakley

The chosen three
It may be too soon for the third party to utter the dread phrase “skipping a generation”, but three of the Liberal Democrats’ 2005 intake are already making waves at Westminster. Parliamentary Monitor editor Sam Macrory speaks to Nick Clegg, Julia Goldsworthy and Chris Huhne
Sam Macrory

War of Jenkins
Scourge of New Labour and champion of localist politics, Simon Jenkins pulled no punches during an exclusive interview with Sam Macrory
Sam Macrory

Contesting opinions
If no serious contenders step forward to challenge Gordon Brown for the Labour party leadership, then the party risks failing to address the renewal it desperately needs, warns Neal Lawson
Neal Lawson

Following the leader?
David Cameron appears to be charming the electorate, but who amongst the Conservative ranks have the potential to share his broad appeal? Francis Elliott reports
Francis Elliott

Token complaint
The Liberal Democrats must avoid the temptation of ‘positive discrimination’ and over-promotion to even up their gender balance, writes Aimee Parnell, who calls on women to reach the political summit on their own merits
Aimee Parnell

THE BIG DEBATE:
Trident
Wayne David and Lynne Jones

Science versus superstition
With his discipline widely misunderstood and misrepresented by the media, chief scientific advisor Sir David King tells Sam Macrory of his efforts to introduce scientific rigour to the big debates of our time
Sam Macrory

Science lessons
Professor Lord Robert Winston tells Edward Davie why he believes the scientific community regards Gordon Brown as “two-faced” and why it is vital that the public is consulted on the government’s science decisions
Edward Davie

Wicks’s glacier hints
Malcolm Wicks talks exclusively to Andrew Alexander about his recent trip to Antarctica, a visit which he says made it clear just how daunting the challenge of tackling climate change is to politicians and Parliament
Andrew Alexander

Periodic fables
Alan Duncan accuses the government of both a breach of trust and principle, following its decision to cut the science budget in the DTI
Alan Duncan

Failed experiment
Talk of doubling the science budget means very little when it’s from such a low baseline, writesEvan Harris
Evan Harris

Wide open space
Peter Bond looks at the many new entrants to the 21st century space race
Peter Bond

Tech notice
He may be ‘old Labour’, but Newport West MP Paul Flynn has embraced new technology and urges other politicians to do the same, finds Edward Davie
Edward Davie

Accessibility ramp
Heidi Lloyd looks at efforts to provide internet access to socially excluded groups
Heidi Lloyd

Electronic avenues
Steve Webb passes judgment on successive government attempts to utilise IT to deliver public services
Steve Webb

Signature tune
Richard Allan asks what the response to the government’s online petition on road pricing tells us about future digital interaction between government and citizen
Richard Allan

Caring, sharing data
It is vital that people fully understand the benefits of IT-based public services and are reassured that their personal data is totally secure, says Andrew Miller
Andrew Miller

Ever green
Tim Yeo compares front bench environmental politics with chairing the EAC select committee. He was speaking to Sam Macrory
Sam Macrory

Vintage Austin
You can always count on Austin Mitchell to liven up a flagging select committee gathering, reports Ruth Keeling
Ruth Keeling

Enthusiasm before experience
Sir Trevor Brooking calls for an overhaul of the way youngsters are introduced to sport in this country
Sir Trevor Brooking

Service with a smile
Almost a year on from his appointment Roger Draper, chief executive of the LTA, looks at how tennis is encouraging more people to take up and win in the sport
Roger Draper

Just not cricket
Tim de Lisle reviews the state of English cricket, which he argues is a game worryingly in thrall to money and in desperate need of strong leadership
Tim de Lisle

Job lot justice?
Sam Macrory reports on the issues that led to a demonstration outside Parliament by lawyers fighting to overturn the government’s proposed reform of Legal Aid
Sam Macrory

Digging beneath the surface
Lord Avebury opens the Pandora’s Box that is mining, rights and human development in Peru, and argues that the country’s democracy depends as much on how extractive industries are managed as it does on free and fair elections
Lord Avebury

Je ne regrette: Michael Mates
Michael Mates resigned from the government in 1993 after a furore involving his representations to the attorney general on behalf of the Cypriot businessman and Tory Party donor Asil Nadir. He was talking to Edward Davie
Edward Davie