THE Tory MPs who took the decision to keep their additional earnings secret have good reason for doing so, writes Catherine Pepinster. Three of the Conservative members of the select committee who voted against a key recommendation of the Nolan report on disclosure of earnings are topping up their pounds 33,189 parliamentary salaries with lucrative second jobs. Sir Archie Hamilton, Sir Terence Higgins and Sir Geoffrey Johnson Smith are all earning around pounds 20,000 a year in fees from directorships and consultancies. The other two MPs who voted against disclosure, Quentin Davies and Iain Duncan-Smith, also earn additional sums.

THE bestselling writer Ellis Peters, who created the Brother Cadfael medieval mystery novels, died yesterday aged 82 after suffering a stroke.

THE BIG supermarket chains, thwarted in their attempts to open more out-of-town superstores, are planning their own high street corner shops.

THE Fabians have fallen out. Labour's own think-tank, founded 110 years ago by George Bernard Shaw and Sidney and Beatrice Webb, has been locked in heady conflict over Labour's last great sacred cow: education.

Breweries are planning to flood the country with giant new bars

More people visit galleries than cinemas - and 20 more are planned, reports Catherine Pepinster

John Redwood will join a crowded field with his new think-tank. Catherine Pepinster reports

People in depressed areas may get lower benefits n Lilley under pressure to cut pounds 74bn bill

Crime/ detention fears

FIRST-HAND