Some interesting lessons can be learned from the political fortunes of Sir George Young and Alan Duncan. As everywhere else, in Westminster you make your own luck.

By Alex Stevenson

Their respective journeys in 2009 have been shaped by the expenses scandal, but in very different ways. Still, at least one thing unites them. They got their just deserts.

Take the curious case of Sir George, who I bumped into not so long ago. After a gruelling day's intrigue in the Commons, when MPs had revelled in the political thrills of choosing a new Speaker, I staggered exhausted out of the Palace of Westminster to find myself face-to-face with the runner-up. This was none other than Sir George, of course. I watched as he placidly put on his high-vis cycling gear, tied his trousers into his bicycle clips and rode off into the Millbank sunset. That, I thought, was that: a fitting way to see off the vanquished would-be.

How wrong I was. Less than three months later Sir George is back, promoted to the

Those who think the BNP's image is beyond repair are making a naïve misjudgment.

By Jon Ashford

Some commentators have expressed their support for a possible appearance by the British National party leader Nick Griffin on BBC's question time, certain the bigotry and prejudice that flows through the bitter heart of the organisation will be manifestly clear to anyone watching.

They feel that the BNP's image is beyond repair - destroyed by undercover documentaries showing leading figures trading racist jokes, or recent headlines detailing legal action against the BNP's 'whites only' admission policy. They couldn't be more wrong.

Five years have passed since the BBC documentary aired in 2004, which revealed routine racist banter between leading BNP figures and caused an eruption of controversy at the time. But this will be hazy in most memories.

For now the BNP are operating in a very advantageous political climate. A severe recession and the scandal over MPs' expenses have contaminated

The swing door between government and big business needs bolting.

By Liz Stephens

The other day I found myself agreeing with David Cameron - an increasingly rare thing for me with any politician and rarer than a spotter panda in his case particularly. The Tory leader has banned members of the shadow cabinet from holding second jobs in the lead up to the general election. This was one of the best ideas I've heard all year - if only it were made a universal rule within parliament.

A quick glance at the Register of Members' Interests reveals just how many MPs have directorships in major companies. Having a business background is seen as an asset for an MP - and one can see why that might be. Experience of running a large company could be valuable training for running a large government department - just ask Jackie Smith. However, when you sign up to become an MP you are becoming a public servant - you are signing up to devote your life to public service until the next election. This

The Conservative have wrestled control of the Met from the Home Office, according to one of Boris Johnson's allies. The process of politicising the police is now firmly on its way.

By Ian Dunt

The Tories have now gained control of Scotland Yard, according to deputy London mayor Kit Malthouse. In an interview with the Guardian this morning, he claimed the London mayor's office now has its "hands on the tiller".

The mayor's office was keen to play down the comments this morning, suggesting to politics.co.uk it had been "overwritten", but the quotes do appear to confirm our worst fears: Boris Johnson is quite consciously politicising the Met. Malthouse even admits formulating a document on the Met's priorities with Johnson, according to the newspaper.

It looks as if the process which began with the (forced) resignation of Sir Ian Blair is now reaching endgame. The power struggle between the Home Office and the mayor for control of the capital's police appears to have swung decisively in

The BNP are off to court to defend their white-only membership. They should be ashamed.

By Ian Dunt

The BNP are off to court today, probably not for the last time. The Equality and Human Rights Commission recently issued county court proceedings against the party concerning its constitution and membership criteria, and it'll be looking for an injunction today.

Basically, the BNP only allows white Brits to become party members. The party's 2005 constitution puts it in posh language, but the final result is the same.

"The British National Party represents the collective national, environmental, political, racial, folkish, social, cultural, religious and economic interests of the indigenous Anglo-Saxon, Celtic and Norse folk communities of Britain and those we regard as closely related and ethnically assimilated or assimilable aboriginal members of the European race also resident in Britain," it reads. "Membership of the BNP is strictly defined within the terms of, and our members also

A spoof website with the Baltimore mayor's angry riposte to shadow home secretary Chris Grayling saw several news sites run with the story. Web 2.0 is challenging journalists like never before.

By Ian Dunt

Last week, shadow home secretary Chris Grayling compared parts of the UK to hit HBO show The Wire. So far, so laughable. And then journalists found a way to keep the story going. The mayor of Baltimore had put out a statement on her website lambasting him for linking the city and the show.

"To present a television show as the real Baltimore is to perpetuate a fiction that dishonours our city," she wrote. "It is as pointless as boasting that Baltimore has a per capita homicide rate a fraction of that in the popular UK television show Midsomer Murders."

Except, of course, she didn't. The site was a fake, albeit a very good one, by naughty political blogger Recess Monkey, who is holidaying in Baltimore. Cue red faces all-round. "The mayor of Baltimore did not make the statements

Contrary to popular belief, Climate Camp is not about fighting the police - it's about fighting climate change.

By Liz Stephens

You've never seen so many disappointed people on Wednesday when Climate Camp 'swooped' on London. I'm talking about the media. At the time I joined the 'yellow' swoop outside the Bank of England the media outnumbered the protesters and the police by almost two to one. There were more photographers than at a sighting of 'Brangelina' at the Cannes Film Festival. There was a palpable sense of expectation - would this be another G20? Would there be carnage, kettling and photogenic 'clashes' between the police and activists? At one stage an activist walked up to two policemen and took a photo of them at close range with her camera phone. The mob of photographers clamoured to the scene hoping for a good baton-to-the-head shot. The policeman smiled and then checked his mobile phone for Twitter updates for the umpteenth time. There was an audible mew of anticlimax.

We

Amid the tumult of constitutional reform, an ancient privilege fundamental to Britain's makeup is under threat. But will it really matter if bishops are barred from sitting in the Lords?

By Alex Stevenson

One of the most distinctive features of the 'mother of all parliaments' is the institutionalised guarantee of seats for the Church of England's top cloth. Twenty-six bishops are allowed to sit in the Lords by virtue of their ecclesiastical position as the 'lords spiritual'.

It was the case half a millennium ago. It is the case today. It may not be the case in ten years' time.

Up for grabs is the entire makeup of parliament's second chamber - the extent of its powers, how it will be chosen, even its name. Jack Straw revealed yesterday his preference is for the Lords to be renamed the Senate. That gives a flavour of the extent of the changes afoot.

If the current government gets its way a third of the Lords would be elected at the next general election. In the election after that,