Heart of Darkness

The opposition - and in particular an opportunistically scurrilous performance by Ed Miliband at PMQ's - effectively acted as the parliamentary wing of the Police Federation. The media — with the honourable exception of Channel 4 — and despite Leveson, failed in its job of scrutinising the powerful and served only the interests of the baying mob.

And if this can happen in the heart of Whitehall, to a senior government minister, then most assuredly it can happen to any one of us, anywhere.. Robert Harris on Plebgate.