The Comment Channel
LEADING ARTICLES
Leading article: The hard politics of Russia's new global power

Russia's assumption of the G8 presidency this weekend could not come at a more sensitive time for its Western colleagues in this group of rich states
Leading article: Labour is right to be nervous of its record

While the Blairs sun themselves in Egypt, and the Government dozes, the Tories are busy. Mr Blair's opposite number, David Cameron, has used the Prime Minister's holiday to pull off one Christmas coup after another