Commenting on criticism of his interview in the New Statesman, a spokesperson for Ken Livingstone said; "Ken is clearly saying the advance of lesbian and gay people into politics is unequivocally a good thing. "Unlike many in the Conservative Party he has fought for equality for LGBT rights throughout his life including when it was highly controversial. He established Britain's first civil pa...

OK, since we're dealing with Chinese politics high and low today, here's the Congressional Research Service's detailed backgounder on Xi Jinping, the next CPC General Secretary and President of China, on the occasion of his forthcoming visit to the US....

With No 10 saying aid to India is continuing and that's it (talk about a duff ear for politics), calm down and relax to this. Enjoy.

The trial will be a compelling soap opera for those who usually switch off when they hear the word politics, writes Matthew d'Ancona.

This week’s bookbencher is Sam Gyimah, the Conservative MP for Surrey East. Which book's on your bedside table at the moment? Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel: a great historical novel, covering a fascinating period.   The personalities may change, but the human dynamics of politics are the same today as portrayed in the 16th century. Which book would you read to your children? I donR...

This really does amuse me: America’s largest breast cancer advocacy group has been forced to make a self-abasing retraction of its plan to cut funding for Planned Parenthood following a huge outcry against the decision. Yes, yes, I know the politics. If you’re against breast cancer then you’re in favour of all sorts of wimmins’

The Lib Dems are hated by all the other parties, but not for their politics ( though much of that is objectionable ). No the Lib Dems are hated for their hypocrisy. Chris Huhne is the high priest of nasty the nasty cult of Lib Demery. So the cheer from the whole country when he was charged with lying is still echoing around the drinking holes of Westmin...

From Occupy to the Tea Party, the obsession with corruption is far more damaging to democracy than politicians' alleged shady dealings.

The release of the names behind candidates’ surrogate campaigning groups has put faces to an emerging force in US politics, write Richard McGregor and John Dunbar

With HMS Dauntless and now Prince William gliding across the Atlantic to reinforce Britain's claim on the Falklands, there's no denying that tensions with Argentina have been raised. But let's not get carried away. As Admiral Sir John Woodward reminded us last week, the latest round of defence cuts rules out, or at least undermines, a British counter-invasion. The deployment of our ...