Nine-year-old future star of the silent screen Charlie Chaplin, his mother Hannah, and older half-brother Sydney entered the Lambeth workhouse, south London, in July 1898. The boys were soon transferr

Lola Young Eight Weeks Looking back, moving forwards, defying the odds 336pp. Penguin. Paperback, £10.99. Lola Young has been a crossbench member of the House of Lords since 2004. She is also an emeri

Government figures released earlier this month show that the UK unemployment rate rose to 5.2% in January – the highest rate for five years. But for younger workers, the situation is far more grim. In

Issue of the week: Labour and jobs ...

● CERTAIN PHRASES, LIFTED FROM famous writers, ...

BEFORE THE PEAKY BLINDERS, A ROGUES’ GALLERY OF LESSER-KNOWN CROOKS TERRORISED CITIES AND TOWNS ACROSS BRITAIN