Working lives are for the state to influence. Unemployment makes people unhappy. So does instability.

But instead of standing up for reason, our government is handing education over to the world of faith.

So what really works? Treatments in jail do some good, but it's mostly too late: finding a family and a job or just growing older make most prisoners eventually give up crime.

My mother begged doctors to end her life. She was beyond the physical ability to swallow enough of the weak morphine pills she had around her. When she knew she was dying I promised to make sure she could go at a time of her choosing, but it was impossible. I couldn't help.

This is indeed a clash of civilisations, not between Islam and Christendom but between reason and superstition.

Islam, Christianity and Judaism all define themselves through disgust of women's bodies.

Is anyone serious about the politics of happiness? David Cameron dipped a toe in the water, using the word lightly, but denying the hard policies it implies. Labour shies away from it, but should take up the challenge.