The Spectator

Letters | 5 December 2013

From our UK edition

Climate scientists write… Sir: Lord Lawson has written in his diary (30 November) under the online summary headline ‘my secret showdown with the Royal Society on global warming’, but the reality is rather different. As he is aware, the purpose of the meeting on 19 November was not to put on a public performance, but

Portrait of the week | 5 December 2013

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Home George Osborne, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, said that average energy bills would be brought £50 lower through government intervention to reduce the obligation of energy companies to subsidise insulation. The government also said it would cut subsidies for onshore wind turbines and solar energy, and increase those for offshore wind farms. David Cameron,

Barometer: Who snorts more cocaine — the rich or the poor? 

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The darkest day Several people were injured on ‘Black Friday’, a day of retail discounting imported from the US, where the fourth Thursday of November is the Thanksgiving holiday and many shops hold one-day sales the following day. There are at least 23 historic events named ‘Black Friday’, from the imprisonment of seven bishops by

David Cameron and Ed Miliband pay tribute to Nelson Mandela

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Downing Street has released the following statement from David Cameron: ‘A great light has gone out in the world. Nelson Mandela was a towering figure in our time; a legend in life and now in death – a true global hero. Across the country he loved they will be mourning a man who was the

Full text of George Osborne’s 2013 Autumn statement

From our UK edition

listen to ‘George Osborne’s Autumn Statement’ on Audioboo Mr Speaker, Britain’s economic plan is working. But the job is not done. We need to secure the economy for the long term. And the biggest risk to that comes from those who would abandon the plan. We seek a responsible recovery. One where we don’t squander

Audio hub: 2013 Autumn Statement

From our UK edition

Throughout the day, we’ll be posting audio highlights from the 2013 Autumn statement — including speeches from George Osborne and Ed Balls. George Osborne’s statement to the House of Commons: listen to ‘George Osborne’s Autumn Statement’ on Audioboo

The 2013 Michael Heath Award for cartooning

From our UK edition

The winner of the first ever Michael Heath award for cartooning is Len Hawkins. One of his drawings appears below. He receives an original drawing by Michael Heath, a bottle of Spectator gin, a year-long contract with The Spectator and a pair of handmade shoes from John Lobb, who kindly sponsored the competition.

Hounddog

From our UK edition

‘So you’re worried that you aint nothin’ but a hounddog, and you keep crying all the time…’

Hound

From our UK edition

‘So you’re worried that you aint nothin’ but a hounddog, and you keep crying all the time…’

Stealing

From our UK edition

‘Stealing from the rich is all very well, Little John, but the bankers, the energy companies, the water companies… I just can’t keep up!’