Whilst the poor of the world’s developing nations starve and struggle over soaring food prices, Andy Rowell describes how the rich world is now squabbling over the huge subsidies it gives its producers to produce more biofuels instead of food.

A press release from the Alliance for Lobbying Transparency (ALT) calls for a radical tightening of the system that monitors the revolving door between Westminster, Whitehall and business, following revelations about former health minister Lord Warner’s extensive involvement with the medical industry.

What more can the government shut down, asks George Monbiot. Oh yes, doctors’ surgeries.

Deborah Coles and Helen Shaw criticise the government for a lack of will to engage with the systemic failures highlighted by tragic deaths in detention settings.

SchNEWS remembers Simon Jones, who was killed 10 years ago at a Shoreham dock on his first day at work unloading a ship.

With little public support for private healthcare, the proponents of marketisation are finding new ways to undermine the NHS. Stewart Player and Colin Leys investigate

The Independent Working Class Association looks at the increasing gap in life expectancy between different social classes.

Extended opening hours will transfer resources away from those in most need, and allow private companies to fill the gaps, writes George Monbiot.

Religious conservatives are responsible for high abortion rates, writes George Monbiot.

The growth in relative materialism over the past 20 years is taking a heavy toll on the wellbeing of English-speaking nations, writes Oliver James.

Liz Main on the often exorbitant costs faced by those with mental health difficulties on returning to work.

Budget cuts, staff cuts and “rationalizations” along with inadequate preparations for a possible bird flu epidemic, writes Barry Mason, demonstrate an ongoing erosion of the physical and organisational infrastructure by the Labour government in line with its imposition of the dictates of big business.

Despite acknowledging the growing obesity crisis and the devastating impact on children’s health, writes Barry Mason, the Brown government is refusing to direct resources to what is a major public health issue or to take any action that would damage the huge profits of the food industry.

Declining hygiene standards lead to 90 deaths at three hospitals from C. difficile, according to a report by the government-funded Healthcare Commission. By Marcus Morgan.

The Indendent Working Class Association on a recent survey of dental patients, which reveals a disturbing picture of healthcare in Britain.

It beggars belief that US health privateers straight out of Michael Moore’s Sicko are being lined up to run core NHS services, writes Seumas Milne.

Michael Moore’s film hails the NHS and condemns US healthcare. But behind the scenes, writes Allyson Pollock, the UK government has already started adopting the American model of health provision.

Originally published in Soundings and exclusively available online at ukwatch.net, Michael Rustin offers a detailed examination of the relationship between well-being, economic growth and the social forces that drive the pursuit of growth, raising important questions about the prevailing thinking on happiness.

A hospital in Coventry lays bare the deceit of neoliberal logic, writes George Monbiot: staff cuts, ward closures and millions to the financiers.

In an extended analysis, Jonathan Rutherford looks at the connections between government and the insurance business in their joint project to reduce eligibility for sickness benefits.