His comments provoked a storm of criticism from Labour and Lib Dem MPs, who accused the chancellor of trying to make political capital out of an appalling crime.

BBC: Mick Philpott case: Cameron backs Osborne over comments

Both Serbian and Albanian political parties have tried to make political capital out of the week's events.

ECONOMIST: Tensions boil over again in the troubled Serbian province

Politicians are also being criticised by speakers, who are urging them not to try to make political capital out of the deaths.

BBC: South Africa remembers dead at Lonmin's Marikana mine

Meanwhile, both Israel and the Palestinian factions have signalled that they hope to make political capital out of the murder trial of Marwan Barghouti, a senior Palestinian leader.

ECONOMIST: Another blind alley | The

Observers say Mr Jospin has made no attempt to make political capital out of the RPR's party funding embarrassments, because investigators believe his Socialist Party also acquired funds illicitly.

BBC: Chirac refuses court summons

Even then, only three out of 20 of those successful enough to attract angel or venture-capital investors make it beyond five years.

ECONOMIST: Innovation

Penk, who carried out hundreds of "wind-up" calls at Capital FM, says the recent tragedy will make it almost impossible for these pranks to continue.

BBC: The end of prank calls?