The recent ‘war of position’ on the economic crisis is more about the politics of appearance than the politics of change, says Simon Barrow. The real agenda cuts much deeper.

Protesters from the campaigning group Plane Stupid have today mounted a hight profile protest against the proposed Heathrow third runway by waving banners from the roof the the parliament building, in a major breach of security.

Pressures from several directions may put disestablishment of the Church of England back on the agenda, say reports following the General Synod and concerns about the long term impact of the Archbishop of Canterbury's Sharia speech.

"There is no dispute about our common allegiance to the law of the land" Archbishop of Canterbury Dr Rowan Williams told the General Synod of the Church of England - and a watching world on TV and the internet - this afternoon.

Kevin Rudd, a man who has been described by the media as "a bookish, intellectual Christian" and "a self-confessed nerd" has triumphed in the Australian general election against long term right-wing incumbent John Howard.

The Campaign Against Arms Trade (CAAT) has received police permission for a demonstration on the Mall as the Saudi head of state King Abdullah rides in ceremony towards Buckingham Palace tomorrow morning. Human rights protests are also predicted.

One of the more intriguing aspects of Gordon Brown's first Labour party conference speech as serving prime minister was his decision to use consciously biblical language as part of his argument against those employing religious rhetoric to oppose his family policy.

The Scottish Episcopal Church has welcomed new Prime Minister Gordon Brown's call for a greater international effort to combat global poverty and his reminder to other world leaders of the promises made on development in 2000.

Gordon Brown has said he will shut down the main government overseas arms sales office – at least in its present form. Peace campaigners want this to signal a more basic shift away from the promotion of military exports.