Contents January 2010

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Cover photo Getty ImagesCover image

Features Cover Story In conversation with John Bercow 14 TheSpeaker talks to Iain Dale about his reformist zeal, his Tory friends andhiswife’s Labour candidacy

Exclusive Ideology survey 20 MPsreveal whether the left-right divide still exists

On the move26 Xander Stephenson looks at transport ministers’ recent moves to escape the Westminster bubble

Never Brown’s babe 28 Caroline Flint talks to Amber Elliott about her emotional past andher loyalties

Not simply novelty value 32 Catherine Shannonexamines the exciting future for elected mayors

Royal British Legion 36 AmberElliott asks the director general of the RBLwhether politicians listen

AmberElliott asks the director general of the RBLwhether politicians listen

Caroline Flint on life after cabinet

Caroline Flint on life after cabinet p28

Britain’s troubled relationship with Europe p38

Regulars Letters 4 Leader 6 Diary 7 TheBBC’s John Pienaar on smiling LabourMPs Total Opinion War cry 8 AndrewHawkinsassesses whether Afghanistan has damagedGordonBrown’s reputation Quotes 9 Debate 10 Is public service broadcasting working? DonFoster MPand Jeremy HuntMPdisagree Total History Oddone in 38 Catherine RSchenkcharts the history of Britain’s troubled relationship with the EU Where are they now?39 Eric Moonman Memorabilia 41 Peter Hain talks of his powerful family history links to Nelson Mandela Theywere also MPs42 AEWMason

Memorabilia Peter Hain talks of his powerful family history links to Nelson Mandela Theywere also MPs AEWMason

Total Campaigns

Total Campaigns Total Campaigns

Well briefed John Shosky advises how to put together the perfect briefing book for a speech

Well briefed 44 John Shosky advises how to put together the perfect briefing book for a speech

It’s better by blog MarkPack illustrates the

It’s better by blog 46 MarkPack illustrates the benefits of blogging for local council communication benefits of blogging for local council communication

One-to-one 47 Shelley Tidmore outlines the best way to get moneyrolling in from big donors Tactics vs strategy 48 EdwardStaiteexamineshow muchemphasisshouldbeplaced onpersonalitywhenchoosingthe messageforacampaign Technology 50 Reviews of the latest Bluetooth headsets Election battleground: East Midlands 52 Robert Waller explains why the Conservatives are likely to clean-up in the East Midlands Campaign Doctor 55 Campaigning in anursing home Total Life Book reviews 58 Previously arrested MPDamian Green reviews ex-Met chief Ian Blair’s newbookandDavid Willetts MPexaminesthe Conservatives from Thatcher to Cameron Brought to book 59 MarkHobanMP The draw of sketchwriting 62 Keith SimpsonMPexplores the history of parliamentary sketchwriting Hinterland 63 Martin Salter MPtalks of his fishy interest Researchers’ stories 64 Thebag-carriers reveal the shocking andhilarious tales fromwithin Westminster Top ten bizarre political parties 65 If I were PM66 TheThick of It’s Chris Addison on elephants andbouncycastles