News Review
A round-up of latest developments in and around Westminster

Westminster Village
A light-hearted take on life in Westminster
 

The Oakley Column
Robin Oakley's monthly take on politics
 

Follow the Sun?
From the downfall of Neil Kinnock to the victory of John Major, the Sun newspaper has long taken the credit for shaping popular opinion in Britain. Edward Davie meets its oracular associate editor, Trevor Kavanagh
Edward Davie

The death of the party
Daniel Forman assesses how the Labour Party has faired under ten years’ of Tony Blair’s leadership, and argues their most successful leader has failed to halt the party’s decline
Daniel Forman

Heir’s gain
With the Blair era now at an end, George Jones reflects on the lessons and legacies that the former prime minister has left behind for the party he kept out of power for over a decade
George Jones

Walking taller
Lord Rodgers reflects on the changing fortunes of the third party since his own election as an MP in 1962
Lord Rodgers

THE BIG DEBATE: Anti-terrorism legislation - For
FOR: Clear and present dangers
Lord Harris

THE BIG DEBATE: Anti-terrorism legislation - Against
AGAINST: Repression is not the answer
Lord Thomas

Muddied playing fields
The new prime minister must ditch the headline-grabbing big announcements and get down to the details of preparing Britain for the 2012 Olympics, writes Nick Greenslade
Nick Greenslade

Driven to distraction?
In transport policy alone, Gordon Brown will find enough headaches and controversy to dominate his first year as prime minister, writes Steve Norris
Steve Norris

Stunted development
aroness Chalker reviews the international development challenges that await prime minister Brown
Baroness Chalker

Novel ideas
Sam Macrory talks to award-winning novelist Alexander McCall Smith about Scottish politics, the arts, Africa, Gordon Brown and the possibility of writing Alex Salmond into one of his novels
Sam Macrory

Sea changes
Alex Salmond looks at the seismic political changes that have occurred in both Scotland and Northern Ireland, and calls for a new era of cooperation between the Northern Irish Assembly and the Scottish Parliament
Alex Salmond

Role reversal
Jack McConnell explains how Scottish Labour will adapt to opposition and hold the SNP to account
Jack McConnell

Delivery settlement
Annabel Goldie sets out the priorities for the Conservatives in Scotland following the recent elections
Annabel Goldie

Power salute
Nicol Stephen sets out an ambitious energy challenge for Scotland
Nicol Stephen

Fat of the land
Scotland is one of the fattest countries in the world but, reports Lyndsay Moss, politicians trying to solve the problem tread a fine line between inaction and over-interference
Lyndsay Moss

Split opinions
Scotland and its politicians show no appetite for a new generation of nuclear new build writes Benet Northcote, who calls on Gordon Brown to pursue a more popular energy path
Benet Northcote

The Egan view
Sir John Egan tells Sam Macrory that unless governments are prepared to delegate powers to a local level then the planning process in this country will remain in disarray
Sam Macrory

Supply lines
Baroness Andrews outlines government plans for achieving the twin aim of providing new housing while protecting the environment
Baroness Andrews

Stuck in the middle
The new planning white paper does nothing to reverse this government’s obsession with enforcing a top-down approach, writes Caroline Spelman
Caroline Spelman

Planning ahead
Planning reform is welcome and long overdue, says Dan Rogerson, but key issues are still to be resolved
Dan Rogerson

Capital plans
Ken Livingstone explains how the London Plan will allow the capital to grow while simultaneously enhancing its environment and tackling climate change
Ken Livingstone

Applying foundations
Kate Barker attempts to find the middle ground between the impact of rising populations and environmental concerns over new house building
Kate Barker

Salt in the wound
Having been criticised by celebrity chef Jamie Oliver for serving children ‘Turkey Twizzlers’, and then suffering the worst bird flu outbreak in the UK, it has been a tough couple of years for Bernard Matthews chief executive Bart Dalla Mura. He spoke to Edward Davie
Edward Davie

Practically floored
The economic and social effects of the domination of a number of supermarket brands, and in particular Tesco, are a cause for worry, writes Andrew Simms
Andrew Simms

Organic matters
Robin McKie investigates the controversies that are hampering the organic food industry in Britain
Robin McKie

All the ingredients
Rick Pendrous reports from the frontline of the food manufacture industry, a sector forever under fire and rarely receiving of praise
Rick Pendrous

Agricultural defending
Unless the right decisions are taken over the next few months, Welsh farming will find itself on the brink of disaster, warns Roger Williams
Roger Williams

Milk of human kindness
In an impassioned defence of the UK dairy industry, David Handley calls on the nation’s politicians to put an end to its slow and painful death
David Handley

Continental drift
Lord Grenfell says the electorate should be reassured that his EU select committee is keeping a close eye on all EU directives proposed by Brussels. He was speaking to Sam Macrory
Sam Macrory

Je ne regrette: Ann Winterton
Ann Winterton was sacked as a shadow agriculture minister by Iain Duncan Smith for allegedly telling a racist joke. She then had the Conservative whip removed by Michael Howard for reportedly making “tasteless” remarks about the cockle pickers who died in Morecombe Bay. She was speaking to Edward Davie
Edward Davie