This year’s general election will see the British National Party try and exploit divided communities in towns and cities across the country. Charlie Baker, who has worked for regeneration cooperative URBED in cities across northern England, looks at the causes of prejudice and segregation in Britain’s racial hotspots.

By Annabel Symington

“I couldn’t say no,” says Humu Tavawallie, 14. “When he asked, I couldn’t say no.” Humu has been sleeping with her teacher, 37, since the end of last school year. “When the practicals [exams] came I didn’t have the money to pay. My teacher said I didn’t have to pay. He said he wanted to love me.” The practicals cost 5000 Leones, less than 80p.

Clare Short's appearance at the Chilcot Inquiry was in contrast to the dour and deflective testimonies so far. But her plaudits in the press have glossed over what amounts to a blatant attempt to rewrite her embarrassing history, says Kelly Armstrong.

The Barack Obama administration’s plans for subduing the Taliban are endangered by continuing insecurity in Iraq, writes Paul Rogers.

By David Cronin

Robert Clive epitomised the excesses of the British Empire. A master, in his own words, of “tricks, chicanery, politics and the Lord knows what”, the head of the East India Company did not hesitate to use mass starvation as a means of asserting control.

By Stephanie King

It took Paparazzi and a sensational MTV Video Music Awards performance to convince me that Lady Gaga was for real. However, despite admiring her pop-meets-performance-art shtick, her music does little for me. But on The Fame Monster skulks a piece of trashy goth-Europop that’s the musical equivalent of smoking – dirty, guilt-ridden and utterly addictive.