By Taylor, Matthew The politics Having defined himself against his predecessor, is Gordon Brown now embracing his vision for public services? Matthew Taylor, one-time head of strategy at No 10, detects a conversion in all but name Plus ca change.

With the country enjoying strong economic growth, increasing trade, and strengthening investment from home and abroad, delegates to the 9th General Conference of the National Democratic Party (NDP) set a progressive agenda to reinvest the benefits of economic reform into a social justice agenda.

ANGELA Merkel took power yesterday as Germany's eighth post- World War II leader and its first female chancellor. She was heading an unwieldy alliance with the tough job of turning around Europe's biggest economy after years of stagnation and political turmoil.