They might seem convenient when you're at the till, but if you only pay off the minimum amount each month the interest quickly racks up. Julian Knight looks at a very expensive way to shop

'There is no more damaging divide in society today than this one in economic and social terms." Thus Anthony Seldon, master of Wellington College, described the state/independent school split this summer.

A ground-breaking auction of new works by Damien Hirst could fetch £65m, but his gallery won't see a penny of it. Arifa Akbar reports

England's richest football clubs shell out fortunes to their players in pursuit of glory. Today, though, all 20 clubs are accused of penny-pinching because they pay more humble members of staff – such as cleaners, catering staff and shop assistants – the lowest legal wages. Some employees receive only match tickets as recompense, or the promise of commission.

The long-running saga of House of Lords reform will still not be settled for at least several years more - despite the publication today of the third White Paper in seven years.

The disciple of 'Dangerous Writing', Chuck Palahniuk, reveals his unusual creative process, and the one place that he won't go in his notoriously bad-taste fiction

Adair Turner was confirmed as the new chairman of the beleaguered Financial Services Authority yesterday. Lord Turner of Ecchinswell, who is one of the Government's favourite fixers and served as the head of the Confederation of British Industry, will take over from Sir Callum McCarthy in September.

Our MPs feel aggrieved because their £61,820-a-year salaries make them less well paid than head teachers or senior managers in the private sector. The House of Commons Commission seems likely to suggest that their pay should be bumped up to about £75,000 after the next general election.

Julian Knight reports on the websites that give hard-pressed consumers the chance to earn rebates on their internet purchases

Benefit fraud has gone up sharply and is now at record levels, the Audit Commission has concluded.

"There is a difference between private and secret." So said Ken Livingstone when he told journalists last week – to pre-empt the disclosure by a Sunday newspaper – that he was the father of five children by three women. The Mayor of London is absolutely right, and makes an important distinction that ought to guide our judgement of the standards of conduct in public life.

The Charity Commission guidance on political activity could hardly be clearer: "A charity must not give support or funding to a political party, nor to a candidate or politician." Our report today that Care, the Christian charity, has been paying the salaries of research assistants for at least eight MPs appears on the face of it to suggest that the law has been broken.

A healthcare revolution is giving NHS patients the right to choose treatment at any hospital in Britain. So which is right for you? Jeremy Laurance offers his diagnosis