Contents August 2010

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Cover story In conversation with Eric Pickles 14 Iain Dale talks to communities and local government secretary Eric Pickles about the vision for his department, mistakes made at the general election and his famous waistline

Was student radicalism as radical as we think it was? p40

A House rebuilt? 20 John Lehal asks whether we will look back on 2010 as the moment when Parliament began to change its ways The return of Vaz 25 Ben Duckworth talks to Labour MP Keith Vaz, as he begins his second stint as chairman of the home affairs select committee Lords of note 26 We speak to peers to find out if outside-world expertise would be lost if the House of Lords became elected

Philip Hammond 32 The first of a series introducing you to key members of the government, starting with the understated transport secretary

Skills, manufacturing and apprenticeship special Upskill struggle 34 New minister for BIS, John Hayes, talks about his skills strategy Still making Britain great 36 The UK is the world’s seventh largest manufacturer yet most Britons are unaware of the fact Apprenticeships 38 Why politicians have finally realised their value realised their value

Billy Bragg on the new politics p58

Regulars Letters 4 Leader 6 Diary 7 Justin Webb on why America’s first black president still inspires people in Britain Total Opinion Coalition grows on you 8 Andrew Hawkins analyses how we can judge the durability of the coalition Debate 10 Are female politicians judged differently to their male counterparts? Across the border 11 John O’Dowd MLA Total History Were students ever really revolting? 40 James Panton reveals that, even in the heady days of the 60s and 70s, student radicalism was only ever a minority sport Where are they now? 41 Ian Wrigglesworth Memorabilia 43 Peter Weir MLA They were also MPs 44 Sir Philip Sidney Total Campaigns Crisis? What crisis? 46 John Shosky’s guide to proactive speechwriting shows how to never get caught out by unexpected events

Memorabilia Peter Weir MLA They were also MPs Sir Philip Sidney Total Campaigns Total Campaigns Crisis? What crisis? John Shosky’s guide to proactive speechwriting shows how to never get caught out by unexpected events

Succeeding in the studio 48 Shane Greer covers the key points to an assured, effective performance once you’re on-air Speed kills 50 Why an effective rebuttal operation is essential to the success of your election chances Effective email newsletters 51 Jag Singh reports on a broadcast marketing tool that is often overlooked by campaigners Technology 52 Reviews of the latest SLRs Campaigning like Wildfire 54 Melanie Batley on a platform that engages supporters through their social networking sites Campaign Doctor 56

Total Life The Bragg manifesto 58 Songwriter Billy Bragg talks to Andy Wilson about the coalition and tackling the BNP Book reviews 60 Simon Burns MP on a biography that charts the rise of Barack Obama and Denis MacShane MP reviews Philip Ziegler’s authorised take on Edward Heath’s life Brought to book 61 Margaret Curran MP Researchers’ stories 63 Hinterland 64 Jackson Carlaw MSP Top Ten political diets 65 If I were PM 66 Comedian Russell Kane