16/05/2010

As the Liberal Democrats meet in Birmingham, we look at the influence of the one time Birmingham MP, Roy Jenkins. With the help of archive from his 1979 speech, 'Home thoughts from abroad', in which he called for the development of the 'radical centre' in British politics, his biographer John Campbell speculates as to what he might have made of the new coalition.

From Germany Steve Rosenberg reports on the churches that have sprung up along the autobahns and talks to those who stop there for contemplation. Also on Broadcasting House, as the Milibands compete to be leader of the Labour Party, BH wondered what sort of a background creates two sons who both want to lead the left? We speak to family friends about the influence of their father, the Marxist intellectual, Ralph Miliband.

Wondering which of our feathered friends were serenading our new leaders in the Downing Street rose garden on Wednesday? We'll tell you.

And bringing us a bookish newspaper review are three authors; Blake Morrison, Sadie Jones, and Michael Dobbs.