Egypt's latest experiment with democracy came crashing to a halt on Wednesday night with a military coup. In this week's Telegram, leading Middle East commentator Shashank Joshi explains why President Morsi fell and says liberals who think the army has saved Egypt from Islamism are mistaken. Our defence editor Con Coughlin disagrees – the Muslim Brotherhood's rule was descending into wretched tyranny, he says.

Also, Telegraph consumer affairs editor Steve Hawkes has been tasting the lavish Christmas menus already unveiled by Waitrose and Marks & Spencer. Coupled with the huge profits of discount supermarkets, they provide yet more evidence of Britain's post-credit crunch "two-speed economy".