The price of a pint
On the show today: the Government's Chief Medical Officer Sir Liam Donaldson finally gets to make his recommendations on alcohol misuse in England - after a weekend of advance spin that saw his bosses in Whitehall stamping all over his proposal to set a minimum price per alcholic unit.
Sir Liam argues a minimum cost of 50p/unit would reduce deaths caused by excessive alcohol consumption; yesterday cabinet minister James Purnell said the government would not allow the majority to be penalised because of the sins of a small minority.
But since Sir Liam's previous proposal to ban smoking in enclosed public spaces in England eventually made it into law, could his latest plans be a taste of things to come?
We'll be discussing this with the Conservative health spokesman Mike Penning, and the president of the Royal College of Physicians, Professor Ian Gilmore.
Also today - the 'godfather' of New Labour Lord Anthony Giddens will be here, discussing the future of 'the third way' ... is Gordon Brown planning to give the EU new financial regulatory powers ?
And as a former Tory backer launches his own party, we look at what it takes to break into mainstream politics.
All that on BBC2 from noon today - or you can watch the show later on the BBC iplayer.
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