Mayoral elections

With the local elections less than a fortnight away, we report from Middlesbrough on the phenomenon of elected mayors.

They were designed to reinvigorate local democracy - but have they instead given rise to a new breed of anti politician? We asked Nick Raynsford MP, Minister for Local Government at the Department of Environment, Transport and the Regions.

Middlesbrough's mayoral hopefuls

Sylvia Connolly - Labour

Ronald Darby - Conservative

Jeffrey Fowler - Socialist Alliance

Rod Jones - Independent

Ray Mallon - No description

Joseph Michna - Liberal Democrat

The Budget

Was last Wednesday's Budget a defining moment for British politics and this Government?

We brought together James Purnell, a former political adviser to Mr Blair, now the Labour MP for Stalybridge and Hyde, in Greater Manchester, and Matthew Taylor, Director of the Labour leaning think-tank, the IPPR, to discuss whether Labour has returned to its roots.

Green light for gamblers?

And why is the Chancellor so keen on promoting gambling? Has the dour presbyterian Chancellor become the punter's friend?

Our reporter Chris Ledgard looks into the Government's strange love affair with the gaming industry.