More of the public are worrying about the possibility of nuclear war than at any time since the fall of the Berlin Wall, according to the latest MORI Political Monitor. Almost one in ten, 9%, of the public interviewed - in the survey conducted the weekend before last, just at the start of the Conference season - names nuclear war, nuclear weapons or disarmament as one of the most important issues facing the country; the last time the figure reached even 5% was in April 1990. Taken with the rise in concern about "defence/foreign affairs", named by 23% of the public as "single most important issue" (top of the list) and by 34% as one of the most important issues (second place, behind the NHS), it is plain that the continuing Iraq crisis is high on the public agenda.
This weekend's march - organised by the Countryside Alliance - is expected to bring hundreds of thousands of people onto the streets of London - many campaigning (one way or another) for more money for the UK's rural areas.
The last week has been a time for reflection - to look back at the climactic events of 12 months ago, and what has happened since. The focus of course has been on America, on the families affected, on New York, and on George W Bush and his administration. From their vantage point this side of the Atlantic, what are the perceptions of the British public, and how have they reacted to the events of the past year?
Recent coverage of the deaths of schoolgirls Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman shows at least some members of the public are still very much in favour of the death penalty - but is it still a majority?
This week saw the publication of the final wave of research from the People's Panel, the survey for the Cabinet Office which MORI has been conducting since 1998 and which the government decided to wind up earlier this year. The survey measures use of and satisfaction with a wide range of public services, and how well informed the public feels about them.
Delivery, delivery, delivery. The performance of the Government on improving public services is now seen as the litmus test that will determine its long-term future, and the Chancellor's spending announcements this week are confirmation, if any were needed, that it is their success in this field on which the Blair administration expects to stand or fall.
