Smash Hit

How MPs can redeem themselves

Parliament should save itself – and countless lives – by demanding the return of British troops from Afghanistan

• Matthew Parris

Too witty for words. I should quit on a high

Thank heavens for the rich guy who splashed out billions on a rail company. See you in the Buffett carriage

• Giles Coren

At last, someone to stick up for the underfrog

It's not easy being a cold-blooded reptile. They need us on their side

• Simon Barnes

Columnists  

Let’s target our ire on the things that matter

Who cares about Jimmy’s jokes or Jan’s prejudices when there are big issues like war and bankers’ bonuses to enrage us?

• Janice Turner

The flame that was snuffed out by freedom

The Berlin Wall fell 20 years ago this week. But the new regimes that followed were not what some of us secretly worked for

• Roger Scruton

What is more important, religious freedom or sex education?

Unless Labour decides, it can expect some almighty battles

• Ross Clark

Leading articles

National Trust

The Fort Hood massacre and the killings of British troops in Afghanistan may fan suspicion of Muslim soldiers. Such mistrust is wholly unjustified

The Tests for Afghanistan

There are still questions to answer but the Prime Minister makes a good case

Mourning Glory

One widow’s dignity in grief has shown Britain how to honour its war dead

Faith  

Chief Rabbi: Islam must separate faith from power

Lord Sacks of Aldgate said Islam must go through 'difficult and painful process' already undergone by Christianity and Judaism

Where is God at the LHC?

CERN's efforts to recreate the beginning of the big bang is not all about science. There are theological questions too

Evangelical outrage over play featuring transsexual Jesus

This is about prejudice, not sacrilege says playwright after Christian evangelical groups picket Glasgow opening of Jesus, Queen of Heaven

Clergy may work longer to fight pensions crisis

Anglican clergy are to be asked to work until the age of 68 after credit crunch leaves 'huge great hole' in pension scheme

Obituaries  

Denys Tucker

Talented but contrarian zoologist whose unconventional views eventually cost him his senior position at the Natural History Museum

Nancy Spero

Militant American artist whose uninhibited work railed darkly against war, state-sponsored violence and the victimisation of women

Air Vice-Marshal Ranjan Dutt

Wartime RAF fighter pilot who later achieved high rank in the Indian Air Force

Sir Donald Logan

Diplomat who played a behind-the-scenes role in the Suez affair and served as Ambassador to Bulgaria in the early 1970s

Join the Debate  

Muzzles won't do: dogs are weapons

They terrorise estates and their numbers are rocketing. We need a bold approach to the problem

Watchdog to overhaul Oxbridge admissions

Fresh review is aimed at the 16 elite universities to improve access for poorer students, government sources say

Couple's desperate message before pirate kidnap

Paul and Rachel Chandler posted a mysterious entry on their blog before setting off their boat’s distress beacon