Six of the Best 507

Alistair McGuire and John Van Reenen say that continued expansion of the NHS is only going to be viable through further efficiency savings of some kind – and even then it is not clear how resource levels will be maintained.

"The more macho elements within Labour are fond of quoting Michael Corleone, in the Godfather Part II, when dealing with the corrupt Senator Geary. 'My offer is this,' says Corleone: 'nothing'. But to make that approach work Michael Corleone had to be willing to murder a prostitute and dupe the Senator into thinking he’d killed her. Rosie Winterton is a very effective Chief Whip but she won’t go quite that far." Philip Cowley on the practicalities of minority government.

Vernon Bogdanor calls for a constitutional convention.

Julia Belluz examines why doctors and scientists are so anxious about the rise of popular science.

"On the night of February 28, 1944, war broke out on the streets of Leicester as black and white American soldiers fought pitched battles. It was the first race riot of the modern age." The Leicester Mercury reprints a 2004 feature by Adam Wakelin.

Andy Marshall photographs the angels of St Nicholas' Chapel, King's Lynn.