Books and Arts – 6 March 2014
The Spectator
Thursday
Wednesday
Patrick Rock arrest: Sir Jeremy Heywood’s reply to Labour letter
Dear Mr Ashworth, Thank you for your letter. I will try to respond to your specific questions but, as you recognise, in doing so my overriding concern must be to avoid doing anything to prejudice or undermine an on-going police investigation. Downing Street became aware of a potential offence relating to child abuse imagery on
Exclusive: HS2 Bill won’t be passed by the next election, Transport Secretary admits
In this week’s Spectator magazine, James Forsyth interviews the Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin. McLoughlin admits that the government is unlikely legislation to get the HS2 Bill through Parliament before the next election — which could leave a major threat over the project in 2015. ‘There are a bevy of Tory MPs opposed to having HS2 run through
Saturday
William Hague summons Russian ambassador as Russian parliament approves sending troops to Ukraine
William Hague, the Foreign Secretary who is off to Kiev tomorrow, has issued the following statement:- ‘I am deeply concerned at the escalation of tensions in Ukraine, and the decision of the Russian parliament to authorise military action on Ukrainian soil against the wishes of the Ukrainian Government. This action is a potentially grave threat
Thursday
Benefits 2
‘Well, I’d like to join in the benefits debate, but I’ve got to go to work.’
Closet
Closet racist
Piggy
‘And the fourth little pig, he built his house from glass and steel, left it vacant and waited for values to soar.’
Posh
‘It appears that our mother is too posh to push.’
Paparazzi
‘Bloody Impressionist paparazzi.’
Hospital 4
Venus
‘It’s a robbery, sarge, but be careful, they’re armed.’
Ukranian
‘It’s a Ukrainian doll — it breaks up into increasingly small, angry factions.’
Kafka 2
Ventriloquist
‘Was it something he said?’
Frack 3
‘My phone’s been fracked.’
Stop bribing Ukraine – and start helping
The last time Viktor Yanukovych was removed from power in Ukraine, following a corrupt election nearly a decade ago, it was called the Orange Revolution. This time around it should be called the Golden Revolution. Never has an episode of political upheaval been followed quite so sharply by offers of riches from abroad. The past
Spectator letters: EDF answers Peter Atherton, Christopher Booker on wildlife
Nuclear reaction Sir: Peter Atherton questions whether a new nuclear power station at Hinkley Point is a fair deal for the UK (‘Nuclear fallout’, 22 February). However, his conclusion is based on some unvalidated assumptions. In May 2012, he wrote that EDF would need £166 for each megawatt hour of electricity produced to get a