UK Politics

Gordon Brown has banged on relentlessly about the need for "global solutions to a global problem" since the economic crisis broke last autumn. But some Labour MPs have grown increasingly uneasy about the time and energy he has expended on securing a "global new deal" at Thursday's G20 summit in London.

Capitalism allied to democracy takes care of the basics of life, and then you are at liberty to do and believe what you wishThe question: Is capitalism a spiritual failure?Capitalism's critics overclaim and overblame. Those of us who think free markets are the least bad way to organise the supply of goods and services do not see it as an alternative religion. We know that markets can harbour the greedy and the venal, just as state planned systems do as well. We know that in market-driven economies some people will work hard and earn large sums of money, some will work hard and earn much less, and some will need help and assistance from government because they cannot succeed unaided.What we also know is that societies which have relied more on market freedoms have created higher living standards overall than tyrannies of the right or left. We know that in free enterprise societies churches and organised religions too can thrive. Capitalism usually works best alongside religious tolerance, allowing differing approaches to the supernatural to flourish. Capitalism allied to democracy takes care of the basics of life, allowing you some spiritual time and liberty if you wish.In the 50-year experiment after 1945 people did not starve from lack of food in the more free market west, but some did in the state planned Soviet Union and China. The churches were not put under pressure to close owing to disagreement with their beliefs in the west, but were more roughly treated in the state-planned east.No sensible defender of the market system believes it can work entirely without law and some state intervention. We are happy to see some money taken from the rich and successful and given to the poor. Fortunately the market system creates surplus which allows this to happen. We agree that the society as a whole, preferably through elected government, has to make judgments about pollution, competition, malpractice and the like to ensure a fair and orderly society.In the west most of those who claim to find capitalism so evil are busily enjoying its benefits and fall short of wishing to destroy it completely. The political argument in a country like the UK is more normally between those who think ever-more state intervention and planning will curb more of the market's perceived imperfections, and those who fear if the state intervenes too much and too clumsily it will create worse anomalies and lower overall incomes.Most UK socialists recognise that the market delivers their daily bread well, so they fall short of calling for its nationalisation. They are less sure it provides them with their daily water in the way they would like, so they might favour more regulation or even ownership of its supply. They never call for the nationalisation of popular music or football, where some of the extremes of high income emerge, nor call for statutory limitation of footballers or pop stars' remuneration. Most are content to buy an ever wider array of high-quality products that serve them well in kitchen, bathroom and living room from around the world at affordable prices. Few make proper enquiries about how those goods were made and the workers treated.Those who seek through religion to provide a spiritual dimension are working within the market's free guidelines. There is no single market view, which says that all must worship mammon and maximise their incomes. The best of a market is its democratic freedom allowing you to buy and sell as little or as much as you choose, and leaving you free to do something else if that is more important to you. That is where a largely free market system is spiritually better than a comprehensively state planned system. A state controlled system does tell you what to do and what to believe, which may include the suppression of all you hold most dear.PhilosophyJohn Redwoodguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds

The prime minister knows what it's like to be the PR man dealing with a media scandal. After all, he was oneIn 1998, the Guardian exposed serious deception at a British media organisation. Carlton Television's award-winning documentary The Connection featured actors pretending to be drug traffickers . The ITV franchise-holder was eventually fined £2m by regulators. Carlton's head of communications at the time was a certain David Cameron.Eleven years later, another investigation by the Guardian uncovered wrongdoing at another British media organisation. The News of the World's royal reporter had already been jailed for illegally intercepting phone messages.Last year the Guardian revealed further phone hacking had been carried out by the News of the World but had been hushed up with £1m worth of payouts. Now a New York Times investigation has revealed further incidents of electronic eavesdropping at the British tabloid . The News of the World's editor during this period was Andy Coulson, who is now head of communications for the Conservative Party, whose boss is none other than David Cameron.Coulson has consistently denied any knowledge of the illegal practices at his newspaper. As witnesses continue to come forward and political pressure grows, perhaps the prime minister is offering his head of communications the benefit of his experience in such matters.When Carlton TV realised that its documentary fakery had been uncovered, the TV company ordered a full internal investigation, held its hands up to the crime and took the consequences.Just what does David Cameron think that Coulson and Rupert Murdoch's News International should do?Andy CoulsonDavid CameronTelevision industryMarketing & PRNews of the World phone-hacking scandalNewspapers & magazinesNewspapersNews of the WorldNational newspapersSteve Busfieldguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds

On this week's Media Talk, Matt Wells welcomes Stephen Brook and TalkSport programme director Moz Dee to the pod.We start by discussing the media story that just won't go away: the News of the World phone-hacking scandal. Labour MP Tom Watson tells us why he hopes a new inquiry will lead to a clampdown on the press.Also in the podcast, we give our verdict on Daybreak, ITV's revamped morning sofa show. Plus, we reflect on the line-up for the new series of Strictly Come Dancing, and wonder why the Top Gear/Stig affair needed to go to the high court.Finally, we ask, will another station take a punt on Sarah Kennedy after the veteran DJ called time on her 17 years at Radio 2?Give us your feedback on the blog below, or follow us on Twitter and Facebook. And for more from our sponsor, please click here to learn all about the Best Awards.Matt WellsBen GreenStephen BrookTom Watson

The BBC's Nick Robinson is travelling the length of the A1 to get the public's opinion on the Spending Review.

Parliament is to debate allegations that MPs had their mobile phones hacked into by News of the World journalists.

David Cameron misses prime minister's questions, flying to be with his father in France after he suffered a stroke while on holiday.

The Secretary of State warns that the government will reappoint the Parades Commission if there is no local agreement on parading.

MPs are to examine how the coalition was formed after the election and issues arising from the negotiations between the two parties.

Conservative MEP Daniel Hannan has launched a campaign for a referendum on Britain's membership to the European Union.

Ministers meet to discuss whether to release information about the death of government scientist Dr David Kelly and whether to hold a formal inquest.

The Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg has insisted it's for the police to decide how to proceed over the News of the World phone hacking row.

Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt is asked about coalition plans for the BBC as he outlines waste within the corporation.

All the action, reaction and analysis as Nick Clegg stood in for David Cameron at prime minister's questions.

Tony Blair pulls out of a second event related to his memoirs amid threats of disruption by an anti-Iraq war protest.

A party to mark the launch of Tony Blair's new book tonight, which would have attracted protests from anti-war campaigners, has been called off, it was revealed today.

Art critic Brian Sewell wants to replace the Arts Council with Dragons Den-style funding bids.

David Cameron is flying to France to be with his parents after his father, Ian, suffered a stroke on holiday, it was revealed today.

Why people who say 'I don't know' are smarter than we think

BBC pulls out all the stop with series lineup that includes former Tory MP and ex-Destiny's Child member Michelle WilliamsThe annual battle for ratings and column inches between The X Factor and Strictly Come Dancing has become an autumn television fixture. After the BBC came off second-best in last year's scheduling head-to-head – in part thanks to a lacklustre celebrity lineup – the corporation appears to be pulling out all the stops with a host of household names.Ann Widdecombe, Felicity Kendal, Paul Daniels, Peter Shilton and former Destiny's Child member Michelle Williams will all be slipping into super-sequinned costumes and taking their first steps on the dancefloor in the coming weeks.Also embracing glitter and sparkle will be the DJ Goldie, the actor Patsy Kensit, rugby player Gavin Henson, psychologist Pamela Stephenson Connolly, Coronation Street's Tina O'Brien, and EastEnders stars Scott Masien and Kara Tointon. Presenter Matt Baker and East is East star Jimi Mistry will also join inbe taking to the dancefloor.In an attempt to rejuvenate the existing Strictly format – last year's series was the least successful since 2005 in ratings terms – Saturday's launch will see the celebrities paired with their professional dancing partners on air.The series proper will then begin in three weeks' time, with Bruce Forsyth donning his dancing shoes for BBC1 Saturday evening shows with Tess Daly.Forsyth will not, however, join Daly on the Sunday evening results programme. Instead Claudia Winkleman, presenter of BBC2's Strictly spin-off show It Takes Two, will co-present the show.Saturday night's launch show will be broadcast at 6.25pm, finishing 20 minutes before The X Factor begins on ITV and avoiding a scheduling clash.The X Factor was watched by more than 10 million viewers last Saturday, bouncing back from a ratings dip the week before.Strictly was regularly beaten by The X Factor last year when the two shows were aired opposite each other.More than 19 million people watched Joe McElderry win The X Factor last December, bringing the talent show its biggest ever audience. Strictly bowed out with 11 million viewers as newsreader Chris Hollins beat Hollyoaks actor Ricky Whittle to the dancing title.Last year's Strictly line-up, widely regarded as under-whelming by critics and many viewers, also included Joe Calzaghe, Lynda Bellingham, Jo Wood, Zoe Lucker and Phil Tufnell.Strictly Come DancingTelevisionBBCReality TVEntertainmentAnn WiddecombeVicky Frostguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds