The Spectator

Thursday

The Spectator

Letters | 21 February 2013

From our UK edition

Benedictions Sir: John O’Sullivan’s summary of Pope Benedict XVI’s ‘extraordinary contribution’ to Catholic thought was masterful (‘Benedict’s reformation’, 16 February) — and how interesting that the Pontiff’s writings and speeches have helped create a new ‘Catholic atheist’ movement. It is a shame, however, that O’Sullivan didn’t mention another area in which Benedict has challenged western ideas: his repeated denunciation of ‘unregulated financial capitalism’ as a threat to world peace. Adam Smith would have agreed with him. I hope that O’Sullivan’s omission was not ideological blindness as to the nasty side of free markets.

The Spectator

Portrait of the week | 21 February 2013

From our UK edition

Home Unemployment fell by 14,000 between August and November to 2.5 million, with the number in work rising by 154,000 to 29.7 million, meaning that 580,000 more people were in work than a year before. David Cameron toured India with an entourage of trade delegates. ‘Britain wants to be your partner of choice,’ he said. His visit came days after India suspended a £480 million contract to buy 12 Westland helicopters, following the arrest in Italy over bribery allegations of the chief executive of Finmeccanica, an Italian firm that makes AgustaWestland helicopters in Britain. The government auction of a spectrum for 4G mobile phones raised £2.34 billion; the Office for Budget Responsibility had forecast £3.5 billion.