The responsibility for good government lies not just with governments themselves but also with every other part of the system they operate in, including media, non-governmental organisations and the public.

The lies the government and media tell are amplifications of the lies we tell ourselves. To stop being conned, stop conning yourself.

As a civil servant in charge of the government's Strategy Unit, I brought in many people from outside government, including academia and science, to work in the unit, dissecting and solving complex problems from GM crops to alcohol, nuclear proliferation to schools reform.

Huge sums are invested globally in medical research and development - and with good reason.

Radicalism is as British as tea and cakes, as much a part of our make-up as monarchy and football. It will never have its own jubilees, palaces or honours system.

Pakistan needs to have decentralisation and a good local government system.