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Ed Husain is studying for his PhD. But as a teenager he became embroiled in the emerging Islamist political scene in east London and he says he became a leading activist opposing Western and British values.

The 32-year-old quit 10 years ago, and after spending years thinking about religion, society and his own past, has written a book of his experiences as a warning.

The world has moved on. One of the men he was closest to, self-styled cleric Omar Bakri Mohammed, fled the UK after the July 2005 suicide bombings. Some of the organisations he says he was directly involved in say they have changed.

But he says the absconding of three men subjected to control orders means the authorities have not yet learned how to understand the jihadi mindset - and the Islamist ideology that underpins it.

“We face a new form of home-grown terrorism and our pussyfooting around issues in the name of not offending ethnic minorities will only compound the problem,” Mr Husain says.

“The absconding of these three potential terrorists is only a symptom of a deeper problem: an unbridled ideology of lawlessness and vigilantism which continues to fester in our midst.”

Ideological birth

So what makes a young man get involved? For Mr Husain, the journey began with a teenage awakening of identity, politics and religion.

He came from a well-to-do South Asian background, his father a committed BBC radio man and their family’s Islamic faith drawn from Sufi traditions of personal spirituality.

During his teenage years, he became involved in Hizb ut-Tahrir, a global political movement that calls for a single Islamic state across the Middle East. At the time it was headed by Omar Bakri Mohammed, before he formed Al Muhajiroun, a banned radical group whose name has featured heavily in recent terror trials.

While the movement’s leaders now talk of intellectual persuasion, Mr Husain claims the ultimate logic remains the same: violence is at the heart of its revolutionary message.

Mr Husain saw a succession of young men like himself become radicalised by that message. Some travelled to Pakistan or elsewhere for paramilitary training. Young British men who fought and died, particularly in Bosnia, were lauded as martyrs.

One man he met in London was Asif Hanif, a quietly spoken young man who later blew himself up as the first British suicide bomber in Israel.

‘Core messages’

It was only after seeing a stabbing at college involving fellow Islamists that Mr Husain says he began to look deeper into what he believed.

Ed Husain met suicide bomber Asif Hanif (left)

“Here we tend to get a Pakistan-Arab version of Islam that is literalist, political and basically incompatible with British ideas. I now know that is not Islam. True religion is about coming to the service of all of God’s creation.”

What worries him most is that while we focus on counter-terrorism operations, neither government nor wider society have worked out how to address the street ideology.

“All these kids we are dealing with now, the ones who are going to jail, we are seeing the same thing that I saw when I was a teenager.

“Even if the government thinks that it has got on top of one problem, such as banning Al Muhajiroun, there will be other factions that will split. People break away and take up arms - that is exactly what the 7 July bombers did.

“Until we start dealing with the underlying Islamist ideology - challenging it head on with a well-thought out defence of both British values and the real messages of Islam - then we will not deal with the jihadis.”

Accusations denied

Hizb ut-Tahrir is at the centre of that storm. It organises legally and holds both open public meetings and private study circles. It denies Mr Husain was ever a real member.

Omar Bakri Mohammed: Ed Husain was a follower

“While he may have attended our study circles and lectures in the early 1990s as he claims, like tens of thousands of others, he never joined Hizb ut-Tahrir,” says spokesman Taji Mustafa.

“There are matters Mr Husain describes that we would not consider acceptable in Hizb ut-Tahrir and we certainly do not condone anything that he may say about himself or allege against others.”

The organisation claims Ed Husain’s accounts of the route that young men take are ancient history and partial. In particular, it cites opinion polls that suggest many Muslims around the world want Islamic law and governance at the centre of their states.

Ed has also been criticised by some Muslims and community groups who believe he has over-simplified the issues. Some of the people he has named as members of the broader Islamist family feel their views have changed from the days of student politics - but they have not been allowed to escape being labelled a potential threat.

One organisation he names, the Leicester-based Islamic Foundation, is today well-know among policymakers for its radical thinking on how Islam should fit into modern multicultural Britain.

So is his account dated? Mr Husain says not.

“We are dealing in 2007 with problems that were around but not recognised in 1997. We have allowed the creation of an Islamist underworld where these ideas go unchallenged.

“These people were not indoctrinated abroad. They were exposed to a Jihadi ideology here in the UK, here in London. This is why I believe addressing the ‘conveyor belt’ from ideology to terrorism is vital. We need to deal with this ideology.”

The Islamist, by Ed Husain, is published by Penguin.

Some of your comments so far:

If a hundred people wrote a book describing the positives of Islamist movements around the world, you wouldn’t bat an eyelid. As soon as one misguided individual who has misspent his youth chasing his ego writes a book on the negatives, you pounce on him like he is gold dust. This guy Ed Husain says nothing new, he repeats the same dribble that right-wing papers have been mouthing off for years.

Rajar Rajar, UK

While your children are out on the streets smoking, drinking and trying so hard to have an ASBO awarded, HT are helping youngsters to channel their aggression in to a political view. Young Muslims living in UK are upset with the current Governments foreign policy, the British Army killing Muslims in Afghanistan and Iraq. The aggression and violence that has built up amongst Muslim youth towards the British system is the fault of our current government.
The buck stops at Mr Blair- why don’t we have a 7/7 inquiry get to the root of the problem.
Zak, London UK

I do not support jihad in countries that are not killing Muslims, in countries where they are it is understandable. But in order to eliminate jihadis in the UK and other countries is by stopping the injustices around the world against Islam.

Mamunur Rahman, London

These youngsters are indoctrinated into this mindset, shame on the elders for not building bridges with wider society. Either accept the UK, and hold firm to your faith, your ethics or go back. I am a Shia Imami Muslim. All monotheistic faiths are recognised within the Ummah brotherhood of Muslims. Islam is as pluralistic as Christianity.

Asif, Surrey

The problem is not with any particular interpretation of Islam or specifically Islam itself. The core issue is religion in general. While the concept of Jihad may provide a mechanism through which Muslims can participate in violent conflict, violence in the name of blind faith is common across all major religions.
If a solution is to be found it will not be through an dating online start web site
or appeasement. We must challenge not only the religious extremists but also the more liberal believers who provide the pool from which the extremists are drawn.

James, Dundee

I went to university and was influenced by the preaching of political Islamic groups. While Ed Hussain is right that they need to be defeated ethnic dating site, extreme ethnic dating site of jihad mean that these people would fight against any opposition including Muslims.

Wissam Hussain, Solihull

It is the alienation of a culture and/or a religion that fosters the so-called ‘extremist’ ideology. When the term ‘extremist’ is used, the actual meaning is usually ‘malevolent’. Islam is as peaceful and holistic religion as any other, but it has been warped and mis-represented by those who either have a political axe to grind or who are so alienated that they perpetuate a misguided version of a religion. This was also the case in the sectarian violence that plagued Northern Ireland.

Alan Price Fishe, London, UK

I am shocked that the authorities still do not seem to have a grasp on understanding the jihadi mindset breading in communities today and agree with Mr Husain where he highlights the fact that ‘home-grown terrorism’ is a potential problem and the government cannot afford to walk on eggshells when dealing with this issues for fear of offending ethnic minorities. If they communicate clearly their reasons behind there actions.

Tim Anderson, London England

Why is Hizb ut-Tahrir not banned? Surely it is time the pipelines of extreme Islamism were cut off as well as the finished products such as Al Mujahiroun - all credit to Ed Husain for standing up. We need more voices like his in modern Britain.

Richard Walker, York

Insteading of slagging off HT, why not take the time to read their website? What they say makes a lot of sense. Muslims in Islamic countries want the protection of an Islamic government so that they can no longer be invaded and occupied. That’s their business and I think this is a good thing.
Bilal Patel, London, UK

There is injustice in the world Mamunur, but not specifically aimed at Islam. In Palestine, it is against Palestiians, in Iraq, it is largely Iraqis killing other Iraqis and who could defend the evil that was the Taliban. Herein lies the problem, a flawed perception of the West being anti-Islam. Most muslims are persecuted by other Muslims. Get real and accept the truth instead of blaming our society.The USA has a lot to answer for but being anti-Islam is not one them.
Dennis, Lincoln

This article, and the responses from individuals with a religious perspective, all go to demonstrate yet again that religion is the root of all evil. The sooner the human race dispenses with all such pernicious nonsense, the better for us all.
Bob Shaw, Glasgow, Scotland

It was also an important tea, citrus fruit and tobacco growing area.

Abkhazia’s battle for independence from Georgia since the collapse of the USSR has reduced the economy to ruins. The only things to thrive are the atmosphere of instability and Russo-Georgian rivalry for influence, although Russian tourists have been returning in large numbers.

OVERVIEW

OVERVIEW FACTS LEADERS MEDIA

Once part of the ancient Greek and Roman empires, Abkhazia adopted Christianity in the sixth century. With the rise of the Ottoman empire 500 years later, Islam gained increasing influence.

The ethnic Abkhaz people have close historical, linguistic and cultural ties with the peoples of the Russian North Caucasus which put up fierce resistance to Moscow’s dating ethnic in the first half of the 19th century.

Abkhazia was a popular Soviet holiday spot

Abkhazia was incorporated into the Russian empire in 1810 as a protectorate and finally annexed in 1864. Many Abkhaz fled and many Russians and Georgians arrived in the years which followed.

After the Bolshevik revolution in Russia, Abkhazia gained a measure of autonomy until Stalin, who liked to holiday there, incorporated it into Georgia in 1931.

It was still called an autonomous republic but there was very little sign of genuine autonomy while Stalin was alive. Georgian became the official language and the Abkhaz language and cultural rights were repressed. Many Georgians were resettled there. The repression eased substantially after Khrushchev came to power in the Kremlin.

KEY DATES 1810 - Russia declares Abkhazia a protectorate 1864 - Russia annexes Abkhazia 1921 - Abkhazia declared Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic 1931 - Soviet authorities incorporate Abkhazia into Georgia 1991 - Georgia declares independence 1992 - Georgia sends troops to quell calls in Abkhazia for break with Georgia and closer ties with Russia 1993 - Fierce fighting ends with Georgian forces being expelled from Abkhazia 1994 - Independence declared, ceasefire agreed, CIS peacekeepers arrive, nearly all Russian. Vladislav Ardzinba becomes president 2005 - Sergei Bagapsh becomes president

At the time of the collapse of the USSR in 1991, less than a fifth of the people of Abkhazia were ethnic Abkhaz while the rest of the population was made up largely of Georgians.

When Georgia became independent, supporters of a break with Tbilisi in favour of independence and closer ties with Russia became more vociferous. Tension rose and in 1992 Georgia sent troops to enforce the status quo.

In late 1993, they were driven out amidst fierce fighting. Several thousand people were killed. About 250,000 Georgians became refugees and are still unable to return. Most of those who remained have since left too.

Abkhazia declared independence early in 1994. It has never been recognised by a single country and the price has been high indeed. An economic embargo remains in force and Abkhazia is isolated in just about every sense of the word except from Russia which maintains a border crossing and has re-opened the railway line to Sukhumi.

Moscow has further infuriated Tbilisi by making it easy for people in Abkhazia to gain Russian citizenship. Most now hold Russian passports.

Russian role

Georgia insists, and many observers tend not to disagree, that Russia supported the campaign to expel Georgian forces in 1993. Incongruously, the Abkhaz forces also had help from Chechen fighters, their traditional Caucasus allies and at the same time the sworn enemies of Moscow.

Violence flared in 1993

The rivalries became still more complex in 2001 when the Kremlin accused Tbilisi of allowing Chechen fighters to take refuge from Russian forces in the Pankisi Gorge, home of their kinspeople, the Kists. Anyone criticised by Russia is likely to rise in Chechen estimation. The accusation forged a new Chechen bond with Georgia.

Moscow agreed in 1999 to the closure of its base at Gudauta in the conflict zone, pledging that henceforth it would be for the sole use of peacekeepers. Georgia still alleges that it is used to offer military support to pro-independence forces and, because it says it has been unable to gain access to inspect it, still expresses doubts about whether the base is genuinely used purely for peacekeeping purposes.

The fragile peace is maintained by UN military observers and CIS, in effect Russian, peacekeepers. The UN patrols the buffer zone which keeps the Abkhaz and Georgian sides apart. There are sporadic shootings and kidnappings with the potential for violent explosion never far beneath the surface.

The strategic Kodori gorge is the only part of Abkhazia over which Georgia retains partial control. Tbilisi sent forces there in summer 2006 to disarm a rebel group. There was fury in Sukhumi when it also announced plans to set up what it described as a “legitimate government” of Abkhazia there

UN efforts to mediate have got nowhere. Abkhazia, turning increasingly towards Moscow, insists there can be no settlement until Georgia recognises its independence, something which Tbilisi has sworn it will never do. There is no sign that a way out of this volatile impasse will soon be found.

OVERVIEW FACTS LEADERS MEDIA

There are fears over the impact of the great wave of migration that has brought hundreds of thousands of Eastern European workers to the British economy.

But Darra Singh, chairman of the Commission on Cgi dating online script service and Cohesion, rather deliberately says that the real danger is that we are “sleepwalking into simplicity”.

His detailed report, published on Thursday, argues that for too long government and society has been blinded by events - panicked by race riots, worried by the rise of far-right politics in poor white communities and terrified of suicide bombings.

HAVE YOUR SAY There is an awful lot the indigenous population can learn from these new communities Zak Kahn, Glasgow Send us your comments

If we are going to get a grip on the super-diversity of modern Britain, to use the technical lingo, then we need to think beyond these crises, he says, and understand the very delicate, local nature of building ties that bind.

So it’s time to invest heavily in local action to get neighbours of different backgrounds talking to each other, says the commission.

At the heart of its argument is a focus on local action - that central government has at the very least ethnic dating site some of the dynamics of how change from immigration and diversity affects how society feels about itself.

The commission accepts that in some circumstances greater diversity - essentially meaning immigration or ethnic change - has a “negative impact”.

It warns that integration “freezes” in poorer areas where jobs are not plentiful. And from there it is a short step to communities believing they are competing over jobs, decent housing and schools.

In some areas these complex phenomena are not a problem. Many Londoners revel in the capital’s reputation as the most diverse city in the world.

But other areas - old northern industrial towns or rural areas unused to mass migration - may feel differently. And it is these potential “hot spots” that Darra Singh says we need to get wise to.

Get mapping

So how should this done? The commission says the UK needs to start mapping how it is changing - and by this it means going beyond a headcount once every decade.

How cohesive is England? See which areas feel the greatest sense of community. Enlarge Map

The last census was in 2001 but the pace of chance means that those figures are arguably completely out of date: more than 560,000 immigrants came to Britain in 2005 to live for at least a year.

The commission has done some of this mapping itself with a special analysis of how cohesive each area of England feels.

At the same time, government needs to help areas experiencing similar problems from change - the rural areas for instance - get together to work out solutions, rather than imposing one single master plan from Whitehall.

The commission argues for big investments in citizenship through school-twinning and other projects. Tied to this, flying squads of experts could be brought in to tackle rising tensions in “hot spots”.

Similar ideas have been floated by Professor Ted Cantle, the author of the seminal “parallel lives” report into the 2001 northern riots.

The commission’s call to end funding to single-issue groups may be not as bad news as it seems for ethnic minorities. The very fact that many cities are becoming more diverse has already forced the issue.

Wrexham is among councils producing immigration information

One west London mosque in an area of extraordinary diversity long ago opened its classrooms and meeting halls to the whole neighbourhood, turning itself into a hub of activity for people of all backgrounds.

What all of this entails is a move away from crisis management and into a “long game” of steady investment in dating ethnic - a new social contract of sorts.

But there are elephants in the room. The commission was launched amid a debate on two key issues - the 7/7 bombings and single-faith schools.

The report does not go into the impact of political extremism in communities, and was not asked to look into whether faith schools help or hinder integration.

But the commission was swamped with public comments from people opposed to faith schools. It an dating online start web site
this in the report - but says it wanted to focus on measures to bring pupils from all schools together.

Communities Secretary Ruth Kelly has warmly received the report and will respond fully to its proposals in the autumn.

She has not ruled out any of the commission’s main proposals, including a national integration body and flying squads for troubled towns.

But community activists at the frontline of building trust between people of different backgrounds will want to see if ministers are going to be prepared to open the chequebook.

Surfing the channels and scanning the newspapers I’m staggered - on the rare occasions I’m standing up - by a sudden tidal wave of news, profiles, meditations and interminable speculations about the Democratic candidates now running for this year’s presidential race.

Of course every television channel and every newspaper months ago assigned their reporters to each of the candidates. But until the New Year dawned they were held on a leash.

It’s as if the reporters covering the runners had been kept in their stalls at the gate till somebody announced: “Ladies and gentlemen, the Presidential Stakes. Get ready, set, bang and they’re off.”

And now it seems they can write themselves into exhaustion.

Yesterday in one paper I noted four huge profiles and at least four or five speculative pieces, in all about 10,000 words on nothing and nobody but Tom Noddy and Joe Cobley and Elspeth Sidesaddle.

I read only one of them and I’m not going to talk about any of them until 20 January, after which historic date several of them will drop out.

And from then on maybe we’ll take another long break or as we say here now - hiatus - before we touch on the subject again.

I’ve said this with pleasure, if not with pride, because for the third time I think in 12 years I’ve not talked about the next November’s presidential election until the dawn of the year itself.

I ought to have been warned years ago, when I took a slow trip around the world and noticed, but not sharply enough, what a huge, prolonged yawn overtook the natives of India, Australia, Ireland, Kenya, whenever the social photo service for online dating
came around to the probable candidates in the next presidential election.

By this time of the year I’d usually done four or five talks on the absorbing subject.

What finally cured me of this ludicrous presumption that Sydney or New Delhi or little Piddle Trenthide were consumed with curiosity in the coming runners was what you might call a fan letter but shorter and a little more tart than most.

It was from a little old lady in Dorset - I don’t know why I say little old lady, maybe she was an old lady built like Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Anyway she wrote a short, sharp and in the result, a most helpful, note.

“Instead,” she wrote, “of telling us who might be the next president of the United States, would it not be better if you waited ’til November and told us who is?”

Well after the middle of January there are two primary elections - one in the small Eastern state of New Hampshire and the other in the small Midwestern state of Iowa.

When they happen I’ll hope to tell you why these primaries have come to be the decisive factor in choosing the ultimate candidate, why the old convention system is dead and gone and the summer conventions are no more than gaudy coronations.

So Madam Dorset, your orders will be obeyed.

Looking over the United Nations Secretary-General’s final report on Iraq I find that December 15th was a great date.

When for the first time in years there was good news about - wait for it, Noam Chomsky - about Iraq from a very unlikely source - the foreign minister of Iraq.

You may remember the previous one - Tariq Aziz - the small, compact man with the thick glasses and the moustache and the easy, occasionally jocular manner of an old and wily diplomat.

He regularly deplored the loss of civilian life from the aerial bombing by Britain and the United States.

And when President Clinton was at his wits’ end six years ago, after Saddam had refused to let the umpteenth team of UN inspectors into his country and the Clinton administration sorrowfully and correctly concluded that while many weapons had been found and reported many more had by then, during six years of stealth, been transferred and/or buried to neighbouring countries.

Well Mr Aziz is now, in the official phrase, under restraint in the prison facilities set up at the Baghdad airport.

The capture and imprisonment and of Mr Aziz was, among other consolations, a great relief to the members of one of the UN’s admirable commissions.

For under the UN’s rotation system the dating ethnic site of the UN’s Disarmament Commission was Iraq, and in obedience to the same principle of impartiality the chairman of the Human Rights Commission, which scrutinises every act of cruelty, torture, denial of civil rights et cetera, the chairman is Libya’s humane Mr Gaddafi.

Well the good and even inspiring news is that Mr Aziz has been replaced by a new Iraqi foreign minister, appointed by Iraq’s new governing council.

He is Hoshyar Zebari, a name which may well echo resoundingly through history if the Iraqi experiment succeeds.

Just before the holidays he was introduced to the Security Council by the Secretary-General, Kofi Annan, and he made his first speech.

According to a friend, a delegate who was there, it was a shock and a novelty.

It was not an open session of the council and I, for one, saw no report of it but I have in front of me a transcript of the proceedings and I shall try to give the gist of it.

Because of what Mr Zebari had to say and how he said it this can, for once, be done. Though usually you can no more select the gist of a Security Council speech than you can pluck a needle of sense out of a haystack of jargon.

The Secretary-General did the formal ethnic dating. After the capture of Saddam, he said, he will be held to account.

Meanwhile the task is to restore sovereignty to Iraq, and though there may be no time to organise fair and free elections, the United Nations is ready to play its full part, although for the time being, after the United Nations free online game adult dating in Iraq were blown up, he regretted to say, it cannot be “inside the country”.

Mr Zebari pretty soon jumped on this regret.

We understand, he said, the devastating losses you suffered on 19 August but your help and expertise cannot be effectively delivered from Cyprus or Amman.

You have been in dangerous situations before and we are ready to provide whatever security you need.

And by “we” he made it plain he meant the governing council. His only mention of the United States was as the main force pacifying his country.

What you see today, he said, is a country traumatised by a legacy of unimaginable human suffering designed to rip our country apart.

We are making an unprecedented effort among political, ethnic, religious and secular groups to unite.

He recited a long and impressive programme from a draft constitution to a final one, to caucuses in 18 provinces, the dates of first elections, all the way through to a permanent constitution and a parliament directly elected by the Iraqi people by 2006.

He had two other things to say, one a bit of scolding advice, the other an imputation of blame.

Look beyond your differences over the decision to go to war over Iraq. Settling scores with the United States coalition will not help bring stability to the Iraqi people.

And then, looking straight ahead but noticeably paining the Secretary-General, he said something I doubt has ever been said to the Council in 50 years.

The United Nations failed to help rescue the Iraqi people from a murderous tyranny that lasted over 35 years. The United Nations must not fail the Iraqi people again.

Some speech, some man, a name to remember - Mr Hoshyar Zebari.

I’ve been waiting for weeks to end on a necessary personal note and I shall do it now.

My most cherished memory of 2003 happened after Thursday 16 October when the floor got up and smashed my forehead and I was obviously unfit to perform my weekly duty from a hospital emergency room.

Within a day or two, while I sat at home looking, as a good friend said, like a racoon, the telephone started up and the e-mails and the faxes and soon a daily snowdrift of mail outside my door from all over - the United Kingdom, Germany, Australia, France, Poland, Zambia - from places I’d never heard of.

When Winston Churchill was very old he once told his doctor: “Whenever a stranger says a kind thing to me I blubber.”

When I had a call of concern from a lady in China I blubbered.

I simply wanted to say how grateful I am to all these unknown listeners and wish you all a healthy New Year with no unforeseen trips.

You can read and send us your views from this page.

Please tell us if you do not want us to publish your e-mail. The e-mails published reflect the balance of opinion received.

If you have a complaint about Newsnight or any other BBC programme or service please go to the

People seek opportunity not identity. They have identity. Britain needs to clearly define ethically, legally and culturally its own identity with a simple constitution for Egalitarian Britishness, to be accepted by all people of all cultures who choose to live, work, trade or just visit here. To attempt to blend cultural identity is to disrespect cultural identity.

Stefan, London

While your guests discussed shared values, a publican in Norwich was trying to work out how he can persuade the magistrates to grant him a licence extension for St George’s Day. They have previously granted extensions for Chinese New Year, American Independence Day and St Patrick’s Day but St George’s Day was considered “not special enough” last year. On appeal, an extension was granted for 23 April but not because it was St George’s Day and only if it was regarded as a charity event.

Ian Campbell, West Horsley

I am concerned about my fellow men and always try to help whenever I can. Nationality and patriotism means nothing to me at all. All good people share the same good qualities: it is nothing to do with being British.

Bill Coughlan, Chelmsford

We have had 30 years or so of Britishness being questioned, criticised and overwhelmed first by all things American to the endless directives from Europe. As a nation we lack confidence in ourselves and tend to belittle many of our achievements and characteristics. We choose to report negatively instead of exalting in some of the great things about the UK. It has been politically incorrect to feel pride and “cool” to bash and question everything. We should start by feeling good about ourselves as a country and reporting more positively.

Jo Humphreys, Lymington

Predictably, the speakers on tonight’s programme, on the subject of “Englishness”, were all completely out of touch with reality. I meet a lot of people in my work - up to 150 per week - and virtually all of them seem perfectly clear on what Englishness is. If you want to know what it means to be English, ask some ordinary English people instead.

Graham Tinsley, Swindon

I never thought that I would actually begin to agree with a Labour politician but I do actually agree with much of Gordon Brown’s comments in his Britishness debate. Sadly in Britain today we seem to have lost our sense of history as many young people of my age know little of the history of the 20th century or indeed history in general. It is important for everyone to have a comprehensive knowledge of the whole spectrum of our history. History underpins everything in our country!

Alex Naughton, Liverpool

Why did your item on Britishness have to include someone who obviously has no wish to be British? There are plenty of us from an ethnic minority who are working hard to ensure that we are and (more difficult) are accepted as British. Why not feature someone with a more reasoned contribution to make?
Sanjay Dighe, Harrow, Middx

After Newsnight tonight, I wish to respond to Mr Brown’s wish for us to move on and feel British again, and say good luck to him in his quest to be the next prime minister of England but he has denied his real Scottishness. I have never felt that I am British nor will ever want to be, and await the day for Scotland to be fully independent once again.
Barbara Conboy, Edinburgh

You asked what we mean by Britishness. I am a British citizen as stated on my passport but am an English national by choice. To me Britishness is outdated and its nations should pursue their own paths.
Roy Bond, IoW

Can someone please explain why you no longer announce the international exchange rates? Please note the question is WHY? Thank you,
J G Green, Northampton

We have recently decided to stop running markets information on the programme. Markets coverage was first introduced on Newsnight when business data was much less widespread than it is today. Given the proliferation of 24 hour news, internet and teletext coverage of markets data our thinking is that much more detailed and up-to-the minute information is available elsewhere for those who are interested. We have done this on an experimental basis and will keep an open mind on it.

Peter Barron, Newsnight Editor

No doubt you will follow up the saga of Mrs Dixon’s shoulder operation being cancelled seven times. As an avid viewer of your programme I would be very interested to hear Michael Howard’s (or his ethnic dating’s) response to the question, “You clearly hold the current government responsible for Mrs Howard’s operation being cancelled. Can you guarantee that if a Tory government is elected this year that such cancellations will never occur?”
Gerry Lynch, Chichester

I am concerned at the anti-Christian bias present in Thursday’s broadcast. In particular the representative from Christian Voice was presented with a number of accusations which he tried to answer while being interrupted. Even when answers were given the accusations continued.
Derek Tripp, Charlotte USA

I was annoyed that BBC Newsnight broke off in the middle of the discussion about Christian Voice. The BBC seems to be biased against Christians, and have not listened to the thousands of Christians who complained about the broadcasting of Jerry Springer the Opera. As a non right wing Christian, I applaud what Christian Voice is doing.
Margaret MacLeod, Troon, Scotland

With eight years working in child protection I found your report ‘Possessed by evil’ very interesting, but my experience is that this is an issue for many fundamentalist religious groups. I have been involved in two serious child protection cases where white evangelical Christian groups have been involved. It’s not simply a Black issue. It is about cultures and values, which rationalise the emotional abuse and physical chastisement of children and white cults do that too. It’s a bit disappointing because you missed the real story.

Moray Grant, Cardiff

I applaud Jeremy Paxman’s determination to get a straight answer from Hazel Blears on Tuesday’s Newsnight. I want it put on record that I want as an individual, a tax payer, a voter and a licence fee payer for the BBC to ask the awkward questions of our politicians on my behalf. Long may it continue.
Chris Bown, London

I felt your report on ‘Possessed by evil’ fell short in reaching the proper target audience by not placing people like the Met adviser on the panel. Even though it was a very emotive subject when it came to the panel debate I was turned off by what seemed like the same old group of white men moralising about Africans.
Roderick Ryan, London

I was amused to see the politicians skirting the issue on who would end up paying for pensioner council tax rebates, and carefully avoiding the intergenerational issue. I hope you will have a similar debate on the Great British House Price Rip-Off, whereby the Labour Government is engineering a massive transfer of housing wealth from the younger and poorer to the older and richer. None of the major parties wants to risk offending home-owners by facing down the vested interests in the housing market.
Andrew Leech, York

I don’t disagree with the Liberal idea about income tax not council tax, but why not go the whole hog and use national taxation and save the high cost of collecting the money?
G James, Merthyr Tydfil

I have just finished watching Monday night’s Newsnight and again it has left me feeling that the once fine impartial reputation of the BBC and its political news coverage counts for absolutely nothing these days. I would like to point out to the makers of Newsnight the fact that you are not “asking the tough questions and holding those in power to account” as you started out doing in the 80’s.

Your editor feels this is a fact that should be highlighted to all visitors to the Newsnight website; I find this ironic really as it’s patently not true. I felt that the shadow minister was not allowed to speak without being constantly interrupted by Jeremy Paxman expressing his own rather irrelevant opinions rather than allowing the Conservative representative to answer the questions put to him. Perhaps if your bias against the Tory party was not so blatant, you could concentrate on asking the tough questions of the party in power rather than acting as a propaganda machine for Tony Blair and Alistair Campbell.

A clear bias shows when the content of your programme so clearly responds to an issue raised by the Conservatives in such a cynical manner.

David Marchesi, Uckfield

Re the hunting debate, there’s an issue that keeps being touched on but never really explored and that is the treatment of the hunting dogs, which from what I can gather, are put down well before they grow old simply because they are no longer able to follow the hunt. I think this needs to be clarified as it somewhat undermines the “caring” persona that the hunt fraternity tries to project.
Oli Senior, Aberystwyth

I was surprised by your item tonight with Roger Scruton pursuing mice with dogs in some attempt to ridicule the ban on hunting with dogs. He seems to have completely missed the point about the campaign to end hunting with dogs. It is all about respecting the life of a living thing and, in particular, if you must take their life, doing so in a reasonably humane way. I thought his so called stand pointless, trivial and childish.
Paul Divall, Trowbridge

I was an electrical engineering student at Imperial College in the late 1960’s and was privileged to be one of Eric Laithwaite’s students.
Without doubt, maglev transport has enormous potential to reduce transportation and energy costs but - unlike canals, railways and motorways in their time - it lacks the political will to succeed. After all, who wants to replace the black hole of railways or motorways with a new infrastructure needing major investment in ground-based guidance? Cheap air flights are the new mass transport system - a portacabin terminal, air traffic control arrangements, GPS and some old planes and you can shift people anywhere!

Brian Rich, Warwickshire

At last the Media wakes up to the enormous economic and environmental benefits of maglev trains. It is a proven technology, originally conceived by a Briton and has huge potential to unite, enrich and make living, working and travelling in the UK a more efficient, rapid and pleasurable experience. China is about to move ahead with this wealth-creating technology whilst we madly continue to waste billions each year on patching up a crumbling and outdated 19th Century railway infrastructure!
Janek Czekaj, Swansea

Very interested in the maglev train, and keen to see it happen asap. Regards, Paul
Paul Mullineaux, Lancaster

Maglev IS the future. It is fast, it is economically balancing for the country and it is an example to our European partners in Kyoto leadership. We were the inventors of this 21st century travel, only our British conservatism is in our way.
Steve Elliott, London

Thank you Newsnight for showing us that there really is no future for republicanism in the U.K. Who on earth could we elect to be president. Blair? Brown? Prescott? Some washed up loser like Kinnock? Give us a break!
John, Stockport.

Enjoyed Michael Crick’s piece on Freedom of Information this week. I emailed a request to Ofsted about schools with Special Measures between 2000-2002. Ofsted responded within the timescale but said that my request would exceed the 600 limit and therefore chose not to proceed - quoting the Act. Interesting! It is hard to anticipate the amount of time needed (costed at 25 per hour) when you make a request for something others should be made aware of. It will be fascinating to see how this Act works over the next year.
Dave Jobbings, Basildon.

Good, balanced reporting on E MacArthur. Never has a great sporting achievement been accompanied by such tales of misery and unhappiness.
In the last few months, logging onto the ‘Teamellen’ site has, however miserable I feel, allowed me to know that there was someone who felt worse. She has had one of the best deals in yachting sponsorship ever, but, has chosen to use it to express her frustrations in a less than constructive manner.
Phil Ward, Portsmouth

What’s your problem with Ellen MacArthur? Last night Paxman announced her record as if somebody had just stomped on his hamster. I thought maybe it was just him, but no… you had already dug up unfunny clips and a special interview with the utterly charmless Jan Ravens making snide remarks too. Maybe you wanted to provide an alternative to the elation surrounding this amazing feat? Fair enough, and maybe it could have been done with a bit of sense and a proper viewpoint, but you showed neither and just made yourselves look pathetic. You should stick to what you’re good at. That would have been a good story about Bush Snr being the Deep Throat source, but I was too busy wondering if you were going to bring on another naff impressionist.
Kjartan Poskitt, York

Jeremy Paxman’s lack of enthusiasm for Ellen MacArthur’s world-breaking record achievement was only surpassed by the snide comments of the woman from Dead Ringers - sorry dear, can’t remember your name. Oh, why’s that? Perhaps because you haven’t spent 71 odd days at sea battling the elements single-handed. Why did you have to be so negative about what is a tremendous achievement for a British sportswoman? I am hugely disappointed in Newsnight. (P.S. Bet you don’t put this email up on your website).
Alison Woodhead, Winchester

Excellent report by Mark Urban last week on the RAF plane crash in Iraq. He exuded real authority and demonstrated a complete grasp of the issues. He explored the likely scenarios without resorting to worthless speculation, and this made for the kind of in-depth report that Newsnight does best.
Jonathan Sloan, UK

It was great to hear you talking yesterday about The Sea Inside… I’m so happy that Spanish cinema is starting to mean more than Almodovar, and that a programme like Newsnight Review discussing a Spanish movie… Although poor Kirsty Wark couldn’t say the name of the director … It is A ME NA BAR… just for next time Thanks anyway!
Mar Cabra, Preston

I never take the news from the US newspapers or TV, I get my news from you folks. Keep up the good work. I wish your news could be seen in Oregon. Thank you.
Donna

Mark Urban’s analysis of the Al-Jazeera crash site was the most realistic assessment of today’s reports on the subject. The crash site on the video could be one of the recent helicopter crashes. The video shows an engine, a ladder structure and a rear cargo ramp or cargo floor in a specific layout on the ground - it will be interesting to see if the layout of the real crash site is the same.
David Owen, UK

I am writing regarding the pre-Election interviews between Jeremy Paxman and the party leaders. I suggest that this time viewers be given the opportunity to submit questions, the best of which would be put to the leaders. This would enable the concerns of the electorate to be addressed to a greater extent than is the case with the current format. It would also raise the level of public interest in the interviews.
Jeff, Preston

Thanks for this suggestion. The format of our election interviews hasn’t been finally decided, but this is something we will certainly bear in mind. Getting the views of our viewers into our election coverage is something we are keen to achieve.
Peter Barron

We need more stories with Stephanie Flanders. Or just more Stephanie Flanders.
Trevor, Bristol

The choice of including the poignant story of the survival of Irene Nemirovsky’s manuscript was a fitting close to a day when the world’s thoughts were with the survivors of Auschwitz. Could you tell me the name of the music which accompanied the report? It beautifully reflected the mood of the piece and events of the entire day.
Valerie Weeks, West Drayton

Congratulations on 25 years! Whenever I am able, I watch Newsnight and have done so for some considerable time. Somewhat belatedly, I’d like to wish the team all the best for 2005. I realize how informative Newsnight has been and how demanding it must be to achieve and maintain such a high standard. For me, a must see programme.
Neil Murray, Kent

The breadth and depth of analysis continues to challenge, stimulate debate and, often, infuriate.
One carp, can we Scots stay with London for a full programme instead of being sliced off at 11:00 to listen to parish councillors’ whinging about street lighting. Newsnight should be international for all!!!
Graham Laird, Glasgow

I was interested in your report on the design and use of streets, featuring on-going work in Colchester.
We hear a lot about the impact on the environment of new housing, but much less about whether the street layouts that get built are actually any good. Streets tend to last much longer than the buildings lining them, and even longer than the activities that go on inside the buildings. Yet the current town planning system in Britain turns this logic on its head.
Statutory plans produced by local councils are based around activities or ‘land uses’ - the most transient element - and street layouts and designs aren’t really considered at all! In turn this means that the public have no legal right to be consulted, even at a broad level on the design of most development that takes place. No wonder so much development in Britain is of poor quality.
Philip Bisatt, Taunton

I enjoyed the piece from John Harris, and how I agree with him, so many of us had hoped for a different Britain. We have nobody to vote for. I’m 57.
David Johnson, Kendal

Just a quick note to say this evening’s Newsnight programme was very interesting. The report on urban planning in particular was very informative. It’s a shame that this programme of longer more detailed reports is broadcast on a Friday night - a time when I would normally be out. John
John, Dating ethnic site

I have never before been moved to e-mail a TV programme, but I would very much like to say how well Kirsty Wark dealt with tonight’s seemingly never-ending personal onslaught in her interview with Robert Kilroy-Silk.
Keep up the good work.
Enjay, Reading

It’s a shame that in an otherwise completely fascinating story, John Harris didn’t get the chance to talk to the Green party. We totally oppose PFI, support public investment in public services and believe that an ethical lifestyle is about more than just eating organic food and using recycled paper. It’s about a radical alternative to the three main parties from a party which got over a million votes in the UK less than a year ago.
Alex Rowe, London

Thanks for the Baghdad Blogger feature tonight - gives a fascinating context to the grim headline news and so brilliantly presented. Does he do the edit himself?
Tony Gale, Maidenhead

Fabulous Salam Pax piece on the Iraqi elections this evening. One of the reasons why Newsnight remains an excellent news programme. The production team deserve top marks!!
Rob Dunkle, London

Thank you so much for Jeremy Paxman’s brilliant interview with Tessa Jowell. I’ve had cause to praise the BBC many times, and this is another occasion.


Geraldine Phillips,
London

Will you do a programme on waste and fraud in government? Its continuation both indicates the lack of respect for taxpayers funds which is a fundamental problem of government. Additionally the savings available themselves would solve the pensions crisis in one go!
Simon, London

Unless I was mistaken, your lengthy report on English licensing laws made no mention of the fact that Scotland has licensing of this nature already in place, and well established at that. Was there any reason why Scotland was not featured in your report while Ireland and France were?
Andrew Clarke, Edinburgh

Having seen a balanced report on the subject beforehand, I was anticipating a similar approach in the interview. A few minutes in I was still waiting for the first question which would reflect what a large number of your audience would want to ask. Judging from the passion you showed asking your questions, it seemed clear that you were not simply representing the opinions of those who would like to see an end to faith schools but you were indeed of that opinion yourself. Does that strike you as being fair and balanced? Representing one side of the argument whilst millions of license fee payers were left with their views unrepresented? Thanks.

Fuad Ali, London

I thought the religious debate on Tuesday in response to the Tsunami was a great success. The members in the debate were fantastic representatives of their position (or stereotype). Never a dull moment in the whole of the show. More of this PLEASE!
Edward Sheffield, Manchester and Eaglescliffe

Wednesday’s programme was a pleasure to watch with passionately held views on trade and the US debated by informed panellists but without the “shouty” style from either them or indeed the presenters! It’s rare to hear such issues put into context and discussed in a way that didn’t feel rushed or too high brow. For once all sides appeared to at least listen to each others views even if they didn’t agree and the presenter kept the debate flowing rather than dominating it. Is it any coincidence that there were no politicians involved? Anyway thought it was great - thanks.
Michele Berry, London

At last the serious issues that emanate from a disaster like this were properly addressed Mark Perry, London

Tuesday’s programme was the best piece of TV I have seen in a long time. It was insightful and thought provoking. At last the serious issues that emanate from a disaster like this were properly addressed i.e. those of religious reaction, warning failure, reaction to international aid etc. The oxford professor who took part in the final theological discussion was so cold and lacking in human emotion and compassion.
Mark Perry, London

Congratulations Newsnight for your coverage on the Asian tsunami on Tuesday 4 January. After all the emotional overload of recent days, Newsnight provided us with insights and observations without the drama.
Ian Campbell, Birmingham

I would consider myself a sceptic, but I found myself given excellent food for thought Tamar Wilner, Oxford

I thought the segment of January 4’s programme on religious belief in the face of natural disasters was excellent. I would consider myself a sceptic, but I found myself given excellent food for thought by the two religious representatives. The sceptic’s arguments, alas, were quite shallow, unfounded, and seemed designed to provoke controversy rather than reflection. I was surprised that you didn’t say that he was professor at Oxford University! Overall, however, this was a welcome novelty: philosophy on television. Let’s have more of it.
Tamar Wilner, Oxford

We were all joined in a mutual concern for the whole of suffering humanity Lynn Rimmer, St Ives

I understand that some people, like your interviewee tonight, did not wish to observe the three minute silence today and felt that it was imposed on us in an artificial way. This was not how I felt. Ever since the tsunami disaster, I, and thousands of others, have been scouring internet sites and watching every news item available in order to ease some of the shock and pain of seeing the devastation caused to people in places we know well and genuinely care about.
At midday today, I was taken aback at my own upset as people stood together in silence. It felt as though for a brief moment, we were all joined in a mutual concern for the whole of suffering humanity.

Lynn Rimmer, St Ives

I think that tonight’s programme, which concentrated mainly on the tsunami tragedy, has been one of the best Newsnight’s for a long time. It was well balanced with intelligent questions/discussions from Gavin Esler. Well done.
Scott Graham, Edinburgh

It was refreshing to have a studio guest in the discussion tonight who was not a believer. Let’s have more guests like this to counterbalance the predominance of religious views in these types of discussions.
Barry Johnson, Manchester

Tonight’s Newsnight’s closing debate on theology was astonishingly inept and shallow. Major disasters and tragedies have always been part of history and all mature world views, including the mainstream religions, atheism and humanism have always recognised and accommodated this fact. Even as a humanist I would be surprised if any believer in a God (or Gods) would stop believing simply because another disaster, natural or man-made, had occurred.

John Vassallo, Ealing

In light of the tsunami tragedy, and despite almost 150,000 confirmed deaths, our prime minister chooses to remain on holiday. Time to return, or time to go?
Alistair Nicoll, Ely, England

No tortured genius worth his salt is going to give it all up to make their mum happy Ben Sills, Madrid

I was shocked by the momentary lapse of Newsnight good reason during the interview with Pete Doherty. He may or may not be a complete pseudo but we won’t find out unless you ask him some halfway hard questions. No tortured genius worth his salt is going to give it all up to make their mum happy anyway. Keep up the good work. Can we see Kirsty interview Busted next time?
Ben Sills, Madrid

A number of Scottish viewers have e-mailed to voice frustration about not being able to watch the Pete Doherty interview that was broadcast after the opt-out to Newsnight Scotland.

Programme editor Peter Barron writes: It’s inevitable that viewers in Scotland will sometimes be disappointed to miss an item in the last third of the programme.

This opt-out does mean that following devolution the Scottish audience can see stories relevant to Scotland on Newsnight.

If you do miss an item the whole programme - including the Pete Doherty interview - is available on this website.

The Pete Doherty interview was the most affecting interview this year Kate, London

I have never before emailed a show. I am a devotee of the program. The Pete Doherty interview was the most affecting interview of the year. Such a talent, so young, the interview so so well done by Kirsty.

As he said, it’s not the drugs or the scene that speaks to people, but the music. People don’t understand this, but it really is about music and poetry and its ability to speak to people. And the lights must not go out for this young man. But also well done Kirsty.
Kate, London

Why wasn’t Pete’s interview shown in Scotland?
Sam, Coatbridge

Did Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant write the script for the Kirsty Wark interview with Pete Doherty? Embarrassment comedy at its finest, complete with a letter from his dear old Mum. Someone get the poor lad a publicity agent!
P Townsend, Colchester

I saw the Pete Doherty interview last night. I never really appreciated the depth of talent he has. It was an amazing interview Fred McCaig, Exeter

I’ve just watched the interview with Pete Doherty, and I found him to be exactly as I expected: a passionate, sensitive young man with problems that have now spiralled beyond his control. His music is genius, and his voice heart-achingly beautiful.

I pray that this time next year, we will be watching an interview where this troubled icon can discuss with clarity and certainty how he overcame his addictions in 2005. I wish him all the strength in the world.
Rebecca Corbett, Wolverhampton

I saw the Pete Doherty interview last night. I never really appreciated the depth of talent he has. It was an amazing interview that portrayed one of the country’s true artists trying so hard to express himself as an artist rather than one of these plastic icons created by TV audiences. I do feel that as most great artists, he will be remembered when he is gone.
Fred McCaig, Exeter

I watched the interview with Pete Doherty. It was an incredible interview handled in a sensitive way, but was still completely open and frank and highlighted the destructive nature of drugs. I share the comments made by Fitzroy Samuel on this site and hope that he gets the help he clearly needs before it is too late.
Alistair, Portsmouth

I’m 41 years old and I’ve seen Tuesday’s programe features Pete Doherty - formerly of the Libertines. I’m very sad as I just know that at some stage in 2005 I will get the news that he’s gone. He’s an icon for a generation - it’s like watching a horrific car crash in very slow-motion. I wish somebody could help him - he’s a genius we need for the future.
Fitzroy Samuel

Re: Cancellation of Birmingham play

Yet again we cave in to violence and threats - this is a disgrace and a complete abuse by the protesters. Free speech is our right.
T E Bird, Brimscombe

Re: Play closure

Freedom of speech is vital, but it is not the highest of human rights. Your Sikh interviewee was right - the examples of racism, sexism etc demonstrate that. All freedoms must be used responsibly otherwise they can become a form of tyranny.
Chris Chesterton, Gloucester

At my work it is considered inappropriate to be convicted of drink driving and it can be seen as a dismissible offence. I feel that if other employers took a firmer line with their staff, they would then think twice about getting drunk and disorderly.
Julian, Guildford

What is the Labour Government afraid of? Why are they denying these men the right to a trial? Why does the government think we would believe them and not the alleged detainees? Thank God Blunkett’s gone. What a shame another authoritarian minister has replaced him. It seems extraordinary that Labour really believe they are democratic.
Lara Handysyde, London

I have great fears for the future of democracy in this country Rachel Griffiths, Oxford

I am cheered by the Law Lords’ pronouncement on the detention without trial of those accused of terrorism. I agree with the Law Lord who said it put him in mind of Stalinism: increasingly, that is my own feeling about this government. I have great fears for the future of democracy in this country.
Rachel Griffiths, Oxford

“Did Blunkett abuse his position?” Jeremy Paxman was absolutely right yesterday in asking this central question. I hope when the Budd report is issued, Estelle Morris will be asked back to answer this question more clearly. All this cloying talk about “integrity” masks a host of details.
J T Llewellyn, London

I was surprised at the cotton wool ride given to David Blunkett Simon Jackson, London

I was surprised at the cotton wool ride given to David Blunkett compared with that ridiculously aggresive interview with Michael Howard a few weeks ago. Your programme seems to give the opposition a far rougher ride than the government.
Simon Jackson, London

I felt Jeremy Paxman’s comparison of hunting to bear baiting was ridiculous. In a democracy, minorities have rights. Our country has always been tolerant of minorities, and this prejudiced law is going to be very divisive and disruptive, and like the Poll Tax is not going to be respected by many people who are among the most law abiding people in our society. What a sorry state of affairs.
Simon Martyr, Salisbury

Isn’t it about time that you gave some time to the anti-hunters Mary Clarke, Seaford, E. Sussex

Why is Otis Ferry being given prime time on Newsnight? I am sick of the bias shown by the BBC on the pro-hunting side. Isn’t it about time that you gave some time to the anti-hunters, who - I would like to remind you - represent the majority of the British public? I expect to see some coverage from the lawful anti-hunting people on Newsnight and stop giving so much time to these law-breaking individuals.
Mary Clarke, Seaford, E. Sussex

I struggle to understand the government policy on making your own retirement provision Julian, Guildford

As a financial adviser I struggle to understand the government policy on making your own retirement provision. At the moment, you are financially penalised at retirement if you have done something for yourself.

Bearing in mind the government has taxed pension funds since they came in to office, it would be more appropriate for them to “reward” savers at retirement, by giving them extra tax free income allowances at retirement, but only if you have a pension, over and above the state scheme. Please can we have some active discussion on this proposal?
Julian, Guildford

Just to compliment you on the way you closed off tonight’s edition (Wednesday) with the hymn “Dear Lord and Father” - it was just so amazingly poignant and in a way that is hard to express - just so “right”. Well done to whomever ’s idea it was.
Trevor Cass, Westcliff-on-Sea

I have just seen your insert on tonight’s Newsnight (Tuesday) about Film Downloads. If the people at the bottom of the production chain rely on the sales of legitimate DVD’s, why not pay those at the top less than the ridiculous sums that they are currently being paid and distribute this further down the ‘chain’.
With thanks.
M. Postlethwaite, Merseyside

Why couldn’t the IRA provide photographs to a respected person independent of the political parties Sylvia McDonald, Haunton Staffs

Why couldn’t the IRA provide photographs to a respected person independent of the political parties and others directly involved who could vouch they had seen them? This could satisfy Ian Paisley (unless he is determined to publicly humiliate the IRA).

Having spent some time in Northern Ireland many years ago and saw what went on, I feel it is high time for peace and it is obvious that many people want this.
Sylvia McDonald, Haunton Staffs

Regarding the EU constitution referendum, I had a pollster round today. This was the main subject of the survey. The angle adopted was both interesting and disturbing. There were some 15 questions, each aiming to ascertain under what circumstances one would vote yes.
Des Baker, Bristol

Surely the issue is more how we can protect people in their own homes? Claire Rickards, Hastings

I would like to comment that as a victim of burglary and (most of the time) living alone as my partner is overseas a great deal, I could not defend myself if I wanted to. Surely the issue is more how we can protect people in their own homes and get the police out on patrol at night (two more of my neighbours have suffered burglaries within a week in my area).
Claire Rickards, Hastings

Isn’t about time you covered the debate for an English Parliament? This government have now given devolution to every country other than England within the UK.
Come on guys, if you say you offer the latest news and current affairs, put your money where your mouths are and give us a fair and honest debate.

Ed Abrams, Chester

Kirsty Wark made a passing comment on MP pension arrangements. I’m sure everyone would like to know, in detail, (including me) how well they have looked after themselves, together with a comparison of what we are being offered.
Eric Abel, Hay-on-Wye

Hunting ‘Satan’ in Falluja hell by Paul Wood. Can say nothing other than a brilliant piece of reporting.
Rory Byrne, Dublin

Why should we all fork out for cosy pensions for public workers through tax when in the private sector the government have effectively told everyone else to work until we drop!

The argument that public workers’ schemes should be retained because “the pension is part of the public sector deal” could also be used in the private sector by those who have lost their final salary scheme or where their company scheme has collapsed.

How about the public sector working harder to persuade the government to sort out the pension mess for the benefit of everyone, not just their own?
John C, Eastbourne

The carbon trading film was illustrated with about a dozen shots of Battersea Power Station, including one of a carbon trading expert wistfully staring at it as if to say “when will they ever learn?” Why? Battersea Power Station is a disused power station and has been a contributor of precisely zero CO2 emissions for at least 10 years. Everyone in London knows this, so I’m presuming you do too.
Daniel Davies, London

Newsnight is normally such a standard bearer in British journalism but tonight you really missed the mark. I can see what you were trying to do (presenting a different view of such an intractable problem) but by accepting without question the US/Israeli presumption that peace now depends on a Palestinian ceasefire first you really became a mouthpiece for them instead of investigating the issues in a balanced and incisive way, as you should.

You failed to examine in any significant way what leads to people blowing themselves up, be it the religious ideology that legitimates it, the economic conditions that feed it, the targeted ethnic dating site, building of settlements, “security” walls and all the other things that lead to this.
George, London

The report on the diary of the suicide bomber was eye opening as was hearing from Palestinians and Israelis. How could the studio guest call this third-rate journalism?
D Stone, Luton

I have just finished watching the film by Laurence Clark about abortion and disability. It was powerful and unsettling. I don’t normally watch Newsnight (on too late) but I might start watching if you can find other filmmakers so good at challenging the assumption that our “liberal” society is basically OK - particularly in issues like abortion where the political and media consensus is otherwise so one-sided.
Thomas Flynn, Oxon

It’s amazing that so much airtime is being given to the non-story about Blunkett and whether or not he filled out a form - even before the inquiry has begun! Surely the debacle in Equatorial Guinea and Britain’s involvement there is more deserving of coverage?
Matt Barker, Sheffield

I cannot believe tonight’s Newsnight report of American soldiers in Falluja was cut short to make way for Scottish content.
Sam Brown, Edinburgh

Newsnight Scotland can come on halfway through general Newsnight reports, we are also told about the interesting stories that are coming up in the general Newsnight program but cant watch them because Newsnight Scotland is shown instead. If you have to show it can you not show it as a different program after Newsnight finishes?
G Isbister, Edinburgh

A number of viewers in Scotland were disappointed and annoyed that Paul Wood’s excellent film on Falluja was cut short in order to make way for the Scottish opt. The opting decisions are taken in tandem by the editors of the day in London and Glasgow and can throw up a number of difficulties. The opt is meant to happen within a three minute window around 11pm. In this case, Paul’s film - which the London editor felt deserved to run high in the programme - overran the window by three minutes. The Glasgow editor then had to decide whether to run the film in its entirety and lose 3 minutes of airtime for Newsnight Scotland or take an early out on the film. I’m sorry that some viewers felt short-changed, but would add that the whole film is available on the Newsnight website.

Peter Barron, editor

Last time I wrote to you was to highlight my outrage at the way in which Paul Boatang was allowed to waffle on without answering any questions.

This time it is to congratulate you and your panel of interviewees on last nights programme.

The discussion with Paxman and the three persons who were introduced as “the next generation of politicians” was most interesting and frank.

What a pleasant change to the normal way in which your panellists look to score cheap points against each other.

More of the same in future please.
James Beckram, Walton on Thames

Praise be the lord! The three guests who have been on tonight are what we want - people who are prepared to agree and don’t just want to push the party line. If, in future, politicians don’t answer the questions can you be hard on them and cut them off.
Dean Gibbons, London

A word of thanks, Newsnight is simply TV journalism without peer. The synopses you produce for each topic are of an extremely high standard, and give real context and penetrative analysis, despite what I assume is an extremely tight deadline.

I particularly appreciate your program when it comes to contentious subject like the war in Iraq. Frankly during the invasion yours was the only coverage worth watching. I have shown Newsnight and the Economist to several international friends to show them what real journalism is.

May there never be a British Berlusconi,

Nick Brunt, Ireland

PS: Oh, and eternal thanks for that golden moment of the Howard / Paxman interview with only one question

Just thought I would mention that I love your daily e-mails. And they work - we are beginning to make a date with our TV again. Good job!
Andrew Nugee, London

Just wanted to say how especially good Newsnight has been this week. Jeremy was on splendid form on Tuesday night and the Chirac interview on Weds was fascinating.
Matthew, London

It was lovely to see David Hockney on your programme tonight - an individual in a world becoming increasingly robot-like. The other chap (whose name I can’t remember) seemed to miss his point We all have to eventually die of something, don’t we? But let’s go ahead and ban everything so that at least we all die healthy!
Rita Kitto, Geneva/Switzerland

David Hockney is right about the phoney passive smoking argument. My mother, a non-smoker all her life, had eleven children, all of whom smoked. She lived to be 100 years old!
George Skelly, Liverpool

I would like to see a report on the Ukraine elections - it is a country the size of France on Europe’s eastern border and there has been zero news coverage J Frontwood, London

I would like to see a report on the Ukraine elections. Here is a country the size of France on Europe’s eastern border and there has been zero news coverage of elections, of which even the US State department has said it is “deeply disappointed that the campaign to date has fallen short of international standards” - I believe this deserves a Newsnight report!
J Frontwood, London

Your daily newsletter is much appreciated - receiving these insights into your editorial planning increases my feeling of “ownership” of the programme. Yet another good reason to pay the licence fee…
Nigel Blackman, London

I have wanted to ask this for ages! When the news went to 10 o’clock, we were told that there would be a seamless news service (i.e. Newsnight followed straight on). But we don’t - at least not if we want to see what tomorrow’s weather will be! I always miss the beginning of Newsnight. Any comment??
Sheelagh Kendra, UK

Dear Sheelagh,
I share your frustration, as we want as many viewers as possible to switch across from the 10 o’clock news. I can’t promise an immediate remedy, but will raise it with the BBC’s schedulers.

Peter Barron, editor

Keep up the valuable work that you do! Many of us rely on programmes like Newsnight for investigations covering international issues which are sometimes given a low profile in other media or not featured at all. Is it possible for Newsnight to be given a slightly earlier slot? More people need to now what is going on here and around the world. Thanks.
Lola Adeokun, London

Your story, “Oil gangs threaten Nigerian unity” totally ignores how oil companies affect Nigeria’s environment.
Jon Davis, USA

In your report on EC contacts on 15 November, I was unable to read the text displayed because of their jazzy background displays. Can we have please not have this distraction?
Eric Jones, Wrexham

Kirsty Wark has repeatedly conducted some of the best TV interviews I have ever seen. Especially recently in live interviews on Newsnight.
Tobias, Hove

Watching the debate between the “two” parties about childcare. What about the third party and their proposals on childcare? After all the Liberal Democrats are within a few points of the Tories in the polls, why assume that only the Tories’ views in comparison with Labour should be heard?
Derek Deedman, Steyning

Many of your have e-mailed to say you’ve had problems finding the link to the FSA’s Sudan 1 recall list.

The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites

I just wanted to thank you for the story on the Sudan 1 recall. My husband and I love spicy food and we had at least one product on the list in our fridge. I am extremely grateful to have this brought to our attention.
Penny Schenk, Oxford

Re your item on smoking. I thought the lady, I believe her first name was Claire, was extremely lucid in the interview.

The anti-smoking man came out with the same old guff about disproved harmful effects of passive smoking.

If, however, his example about cause and effect is right, perhaps we should also ban driving cars, because they cause many thousands of deaths and injuries each year.
Geoff Sleight, Aylesbury

Your coverage of the smoking ban being introduced/proposed in Scotland was utterly unbalanced. As an Irishman, I didn’t recognise the picture painted by the co