Ken Livingstone came for a campaigning visit in my ward last Saturday. When I was younger and at my first Labour Party Conference, I was too star struck to talk when introduced to him at a reception. I went bright red, opened my mouth and closed it again a few too many times, and then made a dive for the nearest canapé, leaving a more competent friend to make conversation.

Thousands of words have been written about Michael Foot this week. One of the most important legacies of his life are the words he wrote.

The last time I saw Michael Foot was in New Palace Yard a few months ago. He looked ancient, like a battered first edition of a leather-bound book. He was being wheeled around parliament in a wheelchair by some friends. As he was born the year before the German army invaded Belgium, and first stood for parliament in 1935, it is not unrealistic to suggest that he is in the twilight of his life.

New report shows inconsistent use of otherwise good early intervention policies. As belts tighten these must be made truly holistic.

From Obama's healthcheck to Senate lobbyists, US transparency can reveal much while changing little. Over here, will the Ashcroft Freedom of Information news similarly make little impact?

The Conservatives are assembling this weekend in Brighton for their pre-election rally. I can tell you now what's going to happen, and save you the job of having to watch it.

Yesterday George Osborne had a chance to silence his critics. His Mais lecture was his opportunity to set out what the Conservatives would do to bring down the budget deficit, how quickly, and how far they would reduce government borrowing. But, once again, Osborne ducked the tough questions leaving the public as much in the dark as before.

Surprise, surprise, despite the gloomiest warnings from the bankers’ lobby it’s now been confirmed that the expected exodus for 9000 City bankers didn’t actually come about.

A few weeks ago I participated in a panel organised by the National LGBT Forum on ‘Race, Religion and Belief'. I was the token Christian. The first question I was asked centred on comments made by the Pope recently on same-sex adoption and the new equalities legislation.

Would Conservative Home become a Trojan Horse to Cameron's Troy if the Tories won? Our new 'Tory Tracker' columnist investigates the possible impact of the popular grassroots site