Issue 1404

Hall or nothing
Next week there will be what’s billed as “a make or break moment in history”, a summit of world leaders to try to stop climate breakdown. Roger Ratcliffe asks experts what needs to come out of it – and tallies who’s likely to turn up at the convention centre in Glasgow.

Spell it out
Halloween witches are all pointy hats and broomsticks but for the Lancashire women accused of witchcraft in the 17th century it was an all too serious affair. Antonia Charlesworth describes their persecution and the modern petition to pardon them.

The second fret
During an extended break from music Stephen Fretwell built a family and then experienced it breaking down. He tells Dyani Sheppard that approaching a new album without bravado was his last-ditch attempt to hold it together and, even though it didn’t work, it’s transformed his approach to his career.

Plus
News, arts and entertainment, columnist Saskia Murphy on the dangers of banning sex work, comedian Shappi Khorsandi’s letter to her younger self, and much more.