Francis Walsingham, who ran Elizabeth I’s secret service, built up a vast spy network to protect the Queen against the very real risk of assassination.
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E-break Time
How C. difficile caused a seismic shift in health policy
Sunday 09 December 2012
The arrival of a virulent new strain of Clostridium difficile in Britain in the early 2000s caused a medical and political firestorm, led to hundreds of deaths and claimed the scalps of several NHS trust chief executives.
John Rentoul: The man who could have changed it all
Sunday 26 December 2010
Alan Johnson ducked his chance to be leader of his party, and David Cameron was the lucky beneficiary
John Rentoul: The shape of things to come
Sunday 25 April 2010
As the Lib Dems hold their ground, the Cameron and Brown camps must determine the price of victory
Two more 'in lobbying scandal'
Sunday 28 March 2010
Two more ex-Labour ministers were drawn into the lobbying scandal last night, after claims they had been secretly recorded offering to exploit government contacts to help business clients – for fees of up to £2,500 a day.
Geoff Hoon asked to relinquish Nato role
Thursday 25 March 2010
Former defence secretary Geoff Hoon was dropped from a Nato committee following his involvement in the lobbygate row, it emerged.
Nato asks Geoff Hoon to step down as policy expert
Thursday 25 March 2010
Geoff Hoon was yesterday asked to step down from his duties at Nato following his involvement in the "cash for access" scandal. Nato's secretary general, Anders Fogh Rasmussen, asked the former British Defence Secretary to withdraw from a group of 12 policy experts drafting the military alliance's new mission statement after he learnt of Mr Hoon's suspension from the Parliamentary Labour Party.
Simon Carr: Just another dark day in a very gloomy year for Hoon and Hewitt
Tuesday 23 March 2010
Sketch: We are just in the foothills of shame, really. Onwards and upwards!
Harriet Harman denies ex-ministers influenced decisions
Monday 22 March 2010
Commons leader Harriet Harman denied today that ministers had been influenced by the alleged lobbying of former Cabinet ministers into making improper decisions.
Andrew Grice: Labour madness over lobbying scandal
Monday 22 March 2010
Some "friends" of Gordon Brown are putting it about that he won't really be damaged much by the lobbying allegations against Stephen Byers, Patricia Hewitt and Geoff Hoon because the three former Cabinet ministers are Blairites.
Ministers furious at new lobbying 'scandal'
Monday 22 March 2010
Byers, Hewitt and Hoon face sleaze inquiry over 'cash-for-access' allegations
Yasmin Alibhai-Brown: The future of politics lies with women
Monday 22 March 2010
The leaders are trying to charm us with vacuous words and meaningless policies
Blairite star Purnell quits as MP
Saturday 20 February 2010
As Labour unveils ‘A future fair for all’ campaign slogan, former minister tipped as future leader shocks party
Ex-minister Hoon to stand down as MP
Thursday 11 February 2010
Former defence secretary Geoff Hoon is to stand down from Parliament at the election this year, it was announced today.
John Rentoul: The biggest loser from this election will be positive politics
Thursday 14 January 2010
We are in the run-up to an anti-politics election. It is a dismal, life-denying prospect
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Is the Muslim call to prayer really such a menace?
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Channel 4 to 'provoke' viewers who associate Islam with terrorism with live call to prayer during Ramadan
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US army doctor returns arm to Vietnamese soldier fifty years after he took it as a souvenir
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Police seize possessions of rough sleepers in crackdown on homelessness
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Demand for food banks has nothing to do with benefits squeeze, says Work minister Lord Freud
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