The face: Sir Nigel Sheinwald

Tough-talking diplomat who was instrumental in the release of the 15 British sailors and Marines from Iran

Deaths of British soldiers fuel Iran row

Tony Blair said the return of British captives was soured by news that four troops were killed in Iraq by a roadside bomb

The face

Lady lavender: Lady Falkender

Red tape slashed for green homes

Homeowners will be able to install wind turbines and solar panels without planning permission under new government plans

A blockbuster with the Walesa of Clydeside

Ian Rankin meets Tommy Sheridan as he embarks on his latest political quest, to fire the Scottish proletariat

Tories ‘plan name change’ to fight up North

The Conservatives may split off its Scottish branch, effectively conceding that the party is a write-off north of the Border

Talking CCTV cameras will see crime and tick off louts

The Home Secretary has denied 'talking' cameras will bring Britain closer to becoming a Big Brother society

The handshake of history

Northern Ireland witnessed another first when the Rev Ian Paisley shook hands with the Irish Prime Minister in public

Nursery can lead to antisocial children

Toddlers spending more than seven hours a day in daycare are more likely to show antisocial behaviour and anxiety

Brown is best of a bad lot for straight talk

Resident psychologist on Big Brother has concluded that Gordon Brown is the most straight-talking politician

Beckett takes climate change debate to UN

Britain will chair the first UN Security Council debate on climate change after pushing it to the top of the agenda

BBC report set-up?

Romanian Embassy accuses BBC of 'stage-managing' Hyde Park immigrants report

Did you hear?

Casinos pin hopes on judicial review

Labour’s proposals for 17 new casinos suffered another setback after existing casinos were granted a judicial review

Civilian is made chief of nuclear police force

Richard Thompso, a senior MI6 officer, has become the first civilian chief constable in Britain for more than 50 years

Labour fears Scots grab for independence

It is a measure of the crisis facing Labour that Tony Blair and Gordon Brown felt the need to appear together in Glasgow

‘He takes advice only if he wants to hear it’

Gordon Brown has been characterised by a handwriting expert as a ruthless loner reluctant to take advice from colleagues

Ministers ‘didn’t have a clue’ about pensions

Gordon Brown made his raid on pension funds without debating it in Cabinet or consulting other government departments

Most seats might not be enough to govern

The proportional voting system in Scotland means that it is almost impossible for any one party to get an absolute majority

Chancellor backs down in fight for EU cash

Brown abandoned his year-long fight to save about £90 million a year when 26 other EU countries stood firm against him