The Spectator

Thursday

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Letters | 25 July 2019

Rose is the right choice Sir: Every Wednesday for the past nine years, it has been my privilege to attend the lunchtime Eucharist services in the Parliamentary Chapel, conducted by the Speaker’s Chaplain Rose Hudson-Wilkin. These routine acts of worship are not public, but are attended by parliamentary staff, MPs and peers. Central to them are Rose’s homilies and prayers, which are spiritual life-support to those of us who serve and navigate our increasingly fraught politics.

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Barometer | 25 July 2019

Losing confidence The government may soon face a vote of no confidence, the second this year. How often do these votes happen — and succeed? — Since 1945, UK governments have faced votes of no confidence on 23 occasions. Only one of these has been successful — when Jim Callaghan lost by a single vote on 28 March 1979, precipitating the election which brought Margaret Thatcher to power. — There have been 24 successful votes of no confidence in history, 13 of which were in the latter half of the 19th century. — Since 1900 there have been only three — that in 1979, and two in 1924 which brought down Stanley Baldwin and Ramsay MacDonald respectively.

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Portrait of the week | 25 July 2019

Home Boris Johnson became Prime Minister after being elected the leader of the Conservative party by its members, with 92,153 votes to Jeremy Hunt’s 46,656 and a turnout of 87.4 per cent. Philip Hammond got his resignation as chancellor of the exchequer in before he could be sacked, as did David Gauke as justice secretary and Sir Alan Duncan as a Foreign Office minister. Plots were afoot to undermine Mr Johnson’s promise to leave the European Union by 31 October, with or without an agreement. David Frost, a former chief executive of the Scotch Whisky Association, was appointed to the job of liaising with the EU over Brexit, relinquished by the civil servant Oliver Robbins.

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Boris begins

It’s hard to think of a prime minister who has reached No. 10 with lower expectations. Boris Johnson has been dismissed as a philandering clown, a joker calamitously miscast as prime minister in a moment of national crisis. Obloquy has been hurled at him every time he has taken a new job — from mayor of London to foreign secretary. When he became editor of this magazine, his critics said putting The Spectator into the hands of such an oaf was like asking an ape to look after a Ming vase. At every stage, however, Boris’s critics have been confounded. His jobs change, but his style remains. His belief is that achievements speak for themselves, and voters understand that. He has been happy to be judged on his time as London mayor and on the Vote Leave campaign.

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to 2415: The Limit

The word was ‘pale’, suggested by PEELIE-WALLY (1A) and the title, which, with changes to its FIRST VOWEL (7D/33), becomes ‘Pele’ (suggested by VOLCANO GODDESS (22/27)), ‘pile’ (LOADSAMONEY (41)), ‘pole’ (STANG (31)) and ‘pule’ (WHINE (10)). PALE (in the ninth column) was to be shaded. A first prize of £30 for the first correct solution opened on 12 August. There are two runners- up prizes of £20. (UK solvers can choose to receive the latest edition of the Chambers dictionary instead of cash — ring the word ‘dictionary’.) Entries to: Crossword 2418, The Spectator, 22 Old Queen Street, London SW1H 9HP. Please allow six weeks for prize delivery. First prize R.P.

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Full text: PM Boris’s first speech in the Commons

Mr Speaker, I with permission, shall make a statement on the mission of this new Conservative Government. But before I begin, I am sure the whole House will join me in paying tribute to my Rt Hon Friend the Member for Maidenhead - for all that she has given in the service of our nation. From fighting modern slavery to tackling the problems of mental ill-health – she has a great legacy on which we shall all be proud to build. And our mission is to deliver Brexit on the 31st of October for the purpose of uniting and re-energising our great United Kingdom and making this country the greatest place on earth. And when I say the greatest place on earth, I’m conscious that some may accuse me of hyperbole.

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Winemaker Lunches – 2019 dates

Join us in the boardroom at 22 Old Queen Street, London SW1H 9HP for the following Spectator Winemaker Lunches where a delicious, cold four-course lunch provided by Forman & Field will be served; arrive at 12.30pm for a 1pm start. To buy tickets, head to the Spectator Shop. Friday 6 September: Journey’s End  Since the Shropshire-based Gabb family took over Journey’s End in 1995, the estate has grown greatly in both size and reputation. The warm days/cool nights of the coastal Schapenberg Hills of Stellenbosch, the low yields and the sustainable approach to winemaking produce exquisite wines.

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Winemaker’s Lunch with Château de Pommard – Friday 11 October

To buy tickets, head to the Spectator Shop. Join us in the Spectator boardroom on Friday 11 October for the next in our series of Spectator Winemaker Lunches with Château de Pommard. Château de Pommard – founded in 1726 in the heart of the Côte d’Or and now owned by the Carabello-Baum family – is the largest private Clos in Burgundy. Château de Pommard produces some truly incomparable red and white burgundies and, in the company of brand ambassador Olivier Bouchard, we will taste many examples which are likely to include the Meursault, Echezaux, Clos Marey Monge and the great Corton Charlemagne itself. This promises to be a wonderful occasion and we encourage you to book early to avoid disappointment.

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Winemaker’s Lunch with Glenelly Estate – Friday 25 October

To buy tickets, head to the Spectator Shop. Join us in the Spectator boardroom on Friday 25 October for the next in our series of Spectator Winemaker Lunches with Glenelly Estate. Glenelly Estate in Stellenbosch is an outstanding winery, founded by May-Eliane de Lencquesaing (former owner of Château Pichon-Lalande) in 2003. Export director, Nicolas Bureau (Mme de Lencquesaing’s grandson) will take us through a mouth-watering selection of the estate’s wines, including the Glass Collection Chardonnay, the Glenelly Estate Reserve Chardonnay, the Glass Collection Shiraz and the stunning, flagship wine: Lady May. This promises to be a wonderful occasion and we encourage you to book early to avoid disappointment.

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Winemaker Lunches with Joseph Phelps Vineyards – Friday 8 November

To buy tickets, head to the Spectator Shop. Join us in the Spectator boardroom on Friday 8 November for the next in our series of Spectator Winemaker Lunches with Joseph Phelps Vineyards. Joseph Phelps is a name to conjure with in California and under the expert tutelage of export director, Robert Baxter, we will enjoy the winery’s Freestone Chardonnay, Napa Valley Sauvignon Blanc, Freestone Pinot Noir, Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon and the remarkable, highly sought-after Bordeaux blend that is Joseph Phelps Insignia, the first ever so-called icon wine of California, whose first vintage was 1973. This promises to be a wonderful occasion and we encourage you to book early to avoid disappointment. For more on Joseph Phelps Vineyards visit www.

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Winemaker Lunches with Domaine Léon Beyer – Friday 15 November

To buy tickets, head to the Spectator Shop. Join us in the Spectator boardroom on Friday 15 November for the next in our series of Spectator Winemaker Lunches with Domaine Léon Beyer. The gregarious patron, Marc Beyer, a titan of Alsace winemaking, is coming to London specially to host this lunch, bringing with him a fine selection of the Beyer family’s world class single varietal bottlings including their celebrated Comtes d’Eguisheim cuvées and elegant Crémant d’Alsace. Marc will also talk us through his oenological philosophy and rich family history in the region dating back to 1580. This promises to be a wonderful occasion and we encourage you to book early to avoid disappointment.

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Winemaker’s Lunch with Château Grand-Puy Ducasse and Château Meyney – Friday 22 November

To buy tickets, head to the Spectator Shop. Join us in the Spectator boardroom on Friday 22 November for the next in our series of Spectator Winemaker Lunches with Château Grand-Puy Ducasse and Château Meyney. Château Grand-Puy Ducasse (5ème Grand Cru Classé Pauillac) and Château Meyney (St Estèphe) are two of the most familiar names of Bordeaux and we are indeed fortunate to welcome Anne La Neour director of the estates’ owners, CA Grands Crus, to our boardroom to host this lunch. Anne will talk us through the intricacies of Bordeaux as we enjoy several fine vintages from these much-loved and perennially great value estates.

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Beermaker’s Lunch with Timothy Taylor’s Brewery – Friday 29 November

To buy tickets, head to the Spectator Shop. Join us in the Spectator boardroom on Friday 29 November for the next in our series of Spectator Beermaker Lunches with Timothy Taylor’s Brewery. Timothy Taylor is one of the UK’s most celebrated brewers, founded in Keighley, West Yorkshire, in 1858 and still family owned. Best known for its Landlord Pale Ale (four times Champion Beer of Britain), Timothy Taylor’s range includes Boltmaker Best Bitter and the brand new Knowle Spring Blonde. Guests will enjoy these and many others over lunch whilst learning more about British beer in general and Timothy Taylor’s in particular. This promises to be a wonderful occasion and we encourage you to book early to avoid disappointment.

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Winemaker’s Lunch with Domaine of the Bee – Friday 6 December

To buy tickets, head to the Spectator Shop. Join us in the Spectator boardroom on Friday 6 December for the next in our series of Spectator Winemaker Lunches with Domaine of the Bee. Domaine of the Bee is a boutique wine estate in Languedoc-Roussillon (‘a tiny producer of enormous reds’) founded by Justin Howard-Sneyd MW, former wine buyer for Waitrose, his wife Amanda and Philippe Sacerdot. The wines are highly prized and Justin will introduce us to his English fizz, Hart of Gold as well as the 2018 Field of the Bee Blanc, 2018 Bee Pink, 2017 Bee-side Grenache and the mighty 2017 Domaine of the Bee Côtes du Roussillon Villages. This promises to be a wonderful occasion and we encourage you to book early to avoid disappointment.

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Winemaker’s Lunch with Château Quintus – Friday 13 December

To buy tickets, head to the Spectator Shop. Join us in the Spectator boardroom on Friday 13 December for the next in our series of Spectator Winemaker Lunches with Château Quintus. Château Quintus is an exceptional estate in Saint-Emilion owned by Domaine Clarence Dillon, in whose portfolio it rubs shoulders with Château Haut-Brion, Château La Mission Haut-Brion and Clarendelle. In the company of estate manager, Francois Capdemourlin, readers will enjoy Clarendelle Blanc followed by the 2015 Le Dragon de Quintus, the 2011 and 2015 Château Quintus and, finally, the delectably sweet 2015 Clarendelle Amberwine. This promises to be a wonderful occasion and we encourage you to book early to avoid disappointment.

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Winemaker’s Lunch with Bodegas Artadi – Friday 27 September

To buy tickets, head to the Spectator Shop. Join us in the Spectator boardroom on Friday 27 September for the next in our series of Spectator Winemaker Lunches with Bodegas Artadi. Bodegas Artadi dates from 1981 when Juan Carlos López de Lacalle, his family and 13 other growers founded the estate in Alava in the heart of Spain’s Basque country. Today, the company owns vineyards in Laguardia, Navarra and Alicante and produces extraordinary organic Tempranillo and Garnacha (Grenache) wines with minimal intervention. Will Dennison of Pol Roger Portfolio, the UK’s exclusive distributor of Bodegas Artadi, will lead us as we discover why Artadi is one of the most talked about wineries in all Spain.

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A way with words

From ‘Low talk’ by John Daniel, 19 July 1963: Everybody has heard of Dr Johnson’s dictionary, which is now not much more than a curiosity piece, while few know Grose’s dictionary, which provides a unique anthology of 18th-century underworld slang… He collected words he remembered from his reading and his night-time excursions about Drury Lane and Covent Garden, and although he suggests in a preface that his work will be useful to foreigners and provincials, there is more of the wit than the pedagogue in his glosses. For example: ‘Whore-monger: a man that keeps more than one mistress.

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Sherry, Maligned, Misunderstood, Magnificent! – Friday 13 September

To buy tickets, head to the Spectator Shop. Join us in the Spectator boardroom on Friday 13 September for the next in our series of Spectator Winemaker Lunches. Ben Howkins is one of the world’s leading authorities on sherry. To mark the publication of his book, Sherry, Maligned, Misunderstood, Magnificent! (published by the Steven Spurrier-led Académie du Vin Library), Ben will introduce us to all manner of sherry styles, from bone-dry fino and manzanilla to sumptuously sweet PX, as he explains that there is a sherry for everyone and why this much underrated wine is undergoing a long-awaited renaissance. This promises to be a wonderful occasion and we encourage you to book early to avoid disappointment.

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Winemaker’s Lunch with Journey’s End – Friday 6 September

To buy tickets, head to the Spectator Shop. Join us in the Spectator boardroom on Friday 6 September for the next in our series of Spectator Winemaker Lunches with Journey's End. Since the Shropshire-based Gabb family took over Journey’s End in 1995, the estate has grown greatly in both size and reputation. The warm days/cool nights of the coastal Schapenberg Hills of Stellenbosch, the low yields and the sustainable approach to winemaking produce exquisite wines. Join winemaker Mike Dawson (on his first trip to the UK) as he takes us through such treats as Haystack Chardonnay, Huntsman Shiraz/Mourvèdre and the stunning Cape Doctor Red to name but a few.