HOWZAT

Be calm and polite. Don’t rise to Labour’s bait

To fall back on class warfare, as Gordon Brown has signalled, is nasty politics. It could, though, prove a useful vote-winner

• Matthew Parris

No, MP does not stand for Mostly Plastered

What was Sally Bercow, the Speaker’s wife, thinking when she volunteered details of a past life full of sex and alcohol?

• Giles Coren

The rich are different – even if Zac can’t see it

It’s easy to fall for the smooth charm of the Eton set, but they need to understand why we care about their tax status

• Janice Turner

Don’t bottle out of your champagne moment

As you shop for your Christmas wine, remember there’s a difference between what something’s worth and what it costs

• Stephen Bayley

Drawdown in Afghanistan

Despite risks, Obama’s planned withdrawal of US forces starting in 2011 is a bold attempt to smooth the transfer of power and shore up support for a necessary war

Archbishop tells Pope: women priests here for good

Dr Williams takes hardline stance in Rome as he dismisses Catholic Church's attempt to lure disaffected Anglicans

Muslim teachers and students reject Darwin

In countries such as Egypt and Pakistan academics are, under conservative influence, rejecting evolution, a physicist warns

Richard Todd: The Times obituary

Dashing stage and screen actor who showed a stiff upper lip as Guy Gibson in The Dam Busters and in a host of similar starring roles

Eric Woolfson

Talented songwriter, lyricist, manager and co-founder of the Alan Parsons Project who helped to fund the SDP

'Police not spending any more time on the beat'

Government’s adviser on red tape criticised policing practises as the Home Secretary announced measures to save £545m