Beard beyond belief

The Diary is pleased to bring you investigative reporting at its best. Last week, the Labour Party website hosted an online chat with education secretary Charles Clarke. He was asked by student Simon Smith: "How long have you had your beard and what made you grow one in the first place? Me and my mates reckon you did it for a bet when you were a student and have kept it."

Mr Clarke replied: "It is true that I'm very attached to it. I grew it when I went to university (not for a bet) and have left it on since then except for a couple of brief experimental periods when I secretly shaved it off to see what was underneath!"