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The Spectator
Thursday
Letters | 3 May 2012
Murdoch’s responsibilitySir: Having examined Rupert Murdoch’s dealings with successive governments, Tom Bower (‘Dangerous liaisons’, 28 April) wearily concludes: ‘Blaming the businessman for exploiting politicians’ follies is akin to blaming whales for eating sardines.’ Does the conservative doctrine of personal responsibility extend to media moguls? Or is that, as Leona Helmsley said of paying taxes, just for the little people? Robin Peters Nottingham Unrest in BahrainSir: Taki describes Bahrain as ‘a hellhole’ (High life, 28 April) and characterises the unrest there as being, essentially, the inevitable result of the deprivation of the Shia majority.
Barometer | 3 May 2012
Place namesIf François Hollande is elected French president this week, he will join a very small group: world leaders whose surnames match the names of foreign countries (although Holland is strictly only a region of the Netherlands). — The closest world leader currently to bear this distinction is Co-Prince Joan Enric Vives Sicilia, the head of state of Andorra, whose surname matches the name of a former kingdom. Nahas Angula, prime minister of Namibia, nearly bears the name of a neighbouring country. — France has, however, had a prime minister called France: Pierre Mendes France, leader of the Radical Socialists and PM between 1954 and 55.
Portrait of the week | 3 May 2012
HomeA report by the Commons culture media and sport select committee into News International and phone-hacking declared: ‘Rupert Murdoch is not a fit person to exercise the stewardship of a major international company.’ Four of the ten members of the committee did not endorse this finding. David Cameron, the Prime Minister, was called to the Commons to answer a question from Ed Miliband, the leader of the opposition, on whether he would refer the case of Jeremy Hunt, the culture secretary, to the independent adviser on ministerial interests (Sir Alex Allan). The question arose from Mr Hunt’s handling of News International’s application to take over BSkyB. Lord Justice Leveson declined a request from Mr Hunt to appear early before his inquiry into the media.
Science or starvation
At the end of the month, a group of protestors plan to descend upon a field in Hertfordshire and ‘decontaminate’ (i.e. destroy) a field of genetically modified wheat. The activists, from an organisation called Take the Flour Back, claim to be saving Britain from a deadly menace. In reality, they are threatening not only to undo decades of publicly funded research but destroy one of the best hopes we have of avoiding catastrophic famines. Those opposing transgenic technology have been given an easy ride by the media for the past 20 years.
Wednesday
Shelf Life: Jeremy Clarke
Jeremy Clarke, our Low Life correspondent, has sobered up to answer our impertinent questions this week. His latest book, One Middle Aged Man in Search of The Point, is available in hardback. 1) What are you reading at the moment? Classic Crews: A Harry Crews Reader 2) As a child, what did you read under the covers? Richmal Crompton, E Nesbit 3) Has a book ever made you cry, and if so which one? No book has so far, but a Dickens journalism piece called A Walk in the Workhouse usually makes my eyes prick a bit 4) You are about to be put into solitary confinement for a year and allowed to take three books. What would you choose?
Monday
Just in case you missed them… | 30 April 2012
James Forsyth highlights David Cameron's warning about the eurozone, and previews the coming battle over pensioners' benefits. David Blackburn reports on a weekend to forget for the Tories, and wonders whether Grant Shapps is in line for a promotion. Melanie McDonagh analyses the ongoing row over the Catholic Church and gay marriage. Jonathan Jones brings you the Comedian-in-Chief. Sebastian Payne gives his take on Boris and the ‘jaws of death’. Rod Liddle covers a case of sweet revenge. Alex Massie presents another dose of Saturday Morning Country. The Spectator Arts Blog praises Peter Hain as a ‘man of courage and conviction’. And the Spectator Book Blog's latest Bookbencher is Kate Hoey.
Sunday
Bookbenchers: Kate Hoey MP
Kate Hoey, the independent minded Labour MP for Vauxhall, is in the hot seat this week. She’s reading Boris on London and would save The Pilgrim’s Progress from a burning library. 1) Which book's on your bedside table at the moment? Johnson’s Life of London by Boris Johnson 2) Which book would you read to your children? Every Child’s Pilgrim’s Progress by John Bunyan, retold by Derek McCulloch and illustrated by Geoffrey Fletcher. 3) Which literary character would you most like to be? Jo from Little Women by Lousia May Alcott 4) Which book do you think best sums up 'now'? Londoners: The days and nights of London Now, as told by those who love it, hate it, live it, left it and long for it, by Craig Taylor.
