The financial crisis has led to calls for a return to old-fashioned banking. But it's easy to forget how things have, in many ways, changed for the better.

The former head of MI5, Baroness Manningham-Buller, speaks out against plans to hold terror suspects for longer.

A top Tory councillor quits the party in a row over detaining terror suspects without charge for 42 days.

Downing Street dismisses calls for a rethink over the abolition of the 10p income tax rate.

Kevin Rudd, the main rival to PM John Howard in Australia's polls, announces a huge plan to save the Great Barrier Reef.

The controversy over the Australian defence minister's remarks that oil security is a factor for staying in Iraq reveals how important the issue of Iraq remains to PM John Howard, reports Nick Bryant.

Teaching and health groups say a new code on food adverts for children does not go far enough.

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Labour deputy leadership contender Jon Cruddas responds to questions from BBC News website readers.

Labour deputy leadership contender Jon Cruddas on why he thinks the party has lost its way since 1997.

Impressionist Rory Bremner says Margaret Beckett made indiscreet remarks about her colleagues when he rang her pretending to be the Chancellor. Isn't impersonating a minister illegal?

Cabinet minister Peter Hain says while he laughs at Rory Bremner, the impressionist is 'breeding cynicism'.

Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett was tricked by impressionist Rory Bremner pretending to be Gordon Brown.

BBC Scotland political reporter Stephen Low takes a post-conference look at the political months ahead.

German papers on Friday are unenthusiastic about Chancellor Angela Merkel's meeting with the Chinese premier.

Republicans and Democrats are now assessing the impact of President Bush's veto of a stem cell bill on November's crucial mid-term elections.

The Day Without Immigrants boycott brings a strange hush to Los Angeles, the BBC's Peter Bowes reports.

Rhodri Morgan tells his party only a Labour vote will stop Conservatives gaining power in Cardiff Bay in 2007.

Brian Walden asks whether it's ideology or personality that makes people enter politics?

One of Lady Thatcher's closest allies says David Cameron's Conservative party reforms are "potentially disastrous".