"It's important that all members of the shadow cabinet play their full role in explaining and defending Labour's policy and approach, " he said.

BBC: Peter Hain says Labour must perform better

The Commons shadow-play did, however, illustrate the unresolved tension between agreement on paper and conversion to compromise in practice.

ECONOMIST: Northern Ireland

The effect is preternatural--bringing an immediacy to the past that is paradoxically fresher than the present--and is accomplished with careful attention to the texture of materials and the play of light on surfaces, modulated with projected shadow.

FORBES: Palace Coup

And this is why the whole debate about assisted dying is really a shadow play, behind which lurks a still darker and more discomfiting dilemma.

BBC: A Point of View: The biggest decision

They say he remains the right man for the presidency because of his legendary mastery of Indonesia's political shadow-play.

ECONOMIST: Waiting for Wahid

"Mr Woodward leaves the position of shadow secretary of state with devolution firmly established and he helped play a role in achieving that outcome, " he said.

BBC: Labour has new man in Northern Ireland

By confronting Mozambique's war-torn past on both a conceptual and a practical level, he hopes to play a part in ensuring future generations don't grow up under the shadow of conflict.

CNN: Artist creates objects of beauty from instruments of death

And in March, good light stopped play between New Zealand and England when a troublesome shadow had encroached onto the pitch, making it hard for the batsmen to see the ball.

BBC: Cricket finds new excuse

The dispute continued to cast a shadow over the match, despite England's tenacious display ensuring the series - with one Test to play - cannot be lost by them.

BBC: Ball-tampering row angers Strauss despite draw

Shadow education secretary Stephen Twigg said the scheme had his full support, calling it "an exciting opportunity that could play a major role in reforming children's social work".

BBC: Social work scheme will fast-track top graduates