From ‘Government by Newspaper’, The Spectator, 29 May 1915: WE went to press last week too early to comment upon the outrageous attack made by the Daily Mail upon Lord Kitchener. In condemning Lord Northcliffe for his action in this matter we find it difficult to show that restraint and moderation of language which the
‘A second opinion? OK, here it is: you’re still going to die.’
‘I’m doing security for them — I need the money.’
‘And is there a Mrs Whippy?’
‘The next item contains some not-very-flash photography.’
‘It’s from the BBC, they say we need a licence for our sett.’
‘Will you switch off that damn medical programme!’
‘And stop calling me Nicola.’
‘I want to be a train driver when I grow up — depending on the pay and conditions.’
‘When you told me you wanted your day in court…’
‘The landlord has promised to sort out the damp problems.’
‘You can put your hands down, I’m just taking a photograph.’
Why we don’t need mayors Sir: There are a number of arguments against Steve Hilton’s call for more than 10,000 mayors (‘We need 10,000 mayors’, 23 May). One is that such an idea ruptures the whole tradition of British municipal administration, under which a system of elected councils is maintained to which executive officers are
Steam privatisation Cunard celebrated its 175th birthday by sailing three liners down the Mersey. The formation of the Cunard Line was an early triumph of privatisation. — The Post Office had been operating a monthly service to New York with sailing brigs since 1756. In 1836 a parliamentary committee decided that a steamship service should
Home A Bill to enable a referendum on whether voters wanted Britain to ‘remain’ in the European Union figured in the Queen’s Speech. Another Bill prohibited any rise in income tax rates, VAT or national insurance before 2020. Tenants of housing associations would be given the right to buy their homes. Provision for Scottish devolution
In this week’s Queen’s Speech, the government promised as usual to cut red tape for businesses. But David Cameron is remarkable in his enthusiasm for simultaneously wrapping his own government in red tape. He has proposed a law to prevent the Chancellor raising rates of income tax, and in one of the last acts of
From ‘Boys and Compulsory Service‘, The Spectator, 29 May 1915: [To the editor of The Spectator] Sir,— The wasteful expedient of universal service may be unavoidable, but I submit that loss will outweigh gain if we compel boys under twenty to fight abroad. To this, however, I would admit one exception—married men of whatever age.