19-4
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The Spectator
Saturday
20-6
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22-7
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25-3
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30 2
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44 2
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52 2
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59
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60
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Letters | 25 February 2012
From our UK edition
Forfeiting the VCSir: Although Charles Moore (Notes, 18 February) is correct to say (quoting Colonel Tim Collins) that a holder of the Victoria Cross cannot be stripped of it whatever subsequent disgrace he suffers, he could have added that this is so only thanks to royal intervention. Early in the last century, some functionary proposed, in a characteristic display of official spite, that VCs should lose the decoration if they were convicted of a serious offence. This came to the attention of King George V, whose sense of decency, just as characteristically, was outraged. As he protested, the VC was awarded for supreme gallantry, which nothing could subsequently efface.
Barometer | 25 February 2012
From our UK edition
Animals in courtA group of US scientists has demanded that a Declaration of Cetacean Rights be incorporated into law. There have been animal welfare laws since at least 1635, when an Irish statute prohibited pulling wool off a live sheep. But no country has yet gone as far as to grant animals rights, in spite of several legal challenges. — A US court threw out a case in 2011 brought by pressure group Peta, which argued five orcas were illegally enslaved. — In 2009 the Israeli Knesset rejected an attempt by an MP to rename an Animal Welfare Bill the Animal Rights Bill. — The Spanish parliament’s environment committee recommended in 2008 that primates be granted limited rights, but the suggestion has not been taken up.
Portrait of the week | 25 February 2012
From our UK edition
HomeImmigration officials did not check the details of 500,000 people entering Britain by Eurostar trains, and left unread the biometric chip in passports of people entering the United Kingdom on 14,812 occasions in the first half of 2011, according to a report by John Vine, the independent chief inspector of the UK Border Agency. Theresa May, the Home Secretary, told Parliament that the UK Border Agency would be split in two, with the UK Border Force becoming a separate law-enforcement body.
George should listen to Danny
From our UK edition
Britain is in the middle of the deepest slump in our modern history. What can be done? The best idea we seem to have is one which Danny Alexander drew up on the back of an envelope. When advising Nick Clegg, the now Chief Secretary to the Treasury came up with the idea that no one paid below £10,000 a year should pay income tax. His short-lived predecessor, David Laws, reprised the idea this week, calling for the policy to be financed by cutting higher-rate tax relief on pensions. The Liberal Democrats are rightly exploiting one of the more worrying gaps in British politics: the vacuum where a Tory growth agenda ought to be. George Osborne performs many roles in the government. He is the chief strategist and the arch-fixer.
Friday
From the archives: journalists under fire
From our UK edition
This week brought the sad news of the deaths of two journalists — Marie Colvin and Remi Ochlik — in Syria. As a testament to their bravery, here's a first-hand insight into the dangers of war reporting written for The Spectator in 1991 by Con Coughlin, who was covering the Gulf War for the Sunday Telegraph. Trying to sleep in a gas mask, Con Coughlin, The Spectator, 26 January 1991 Con Coughlin in Saudi Arabia explains how journalists survive Saddam's Scuds Thanks to Saddam Hussein and his Scud missile batteries, our lives are dictated by the wail of air raid sirens.
The week that was | 24 February 2012
From our UK edition
Here is a selection of articles and discussions from this week on Spectator.co.uk... Most read: Fraser Nelson saying George Osborne accidentally makes the case for more savings. Most shared: Rod Liddle on the Saudi journalist who could be killed for a tweet. Most discussed: Matt Cavanagh discussing the implications of the border security report. And the best of the rest... Fraser Nelson backs the Liberal Democrats' plans for a £10,000 tax threshold. James Forsyth reveals the 50p tax is raising less than expected and that tensions are rising inside the coalition. Peter Hoskin says IDS may have to change his work scheme and examines Michael Gove's latest prognosis for education.
Monday
Just in case you missed them… | 20 February 2012
From our UK edition
...here are some posts made on Spectator.co.uk over the weekend: Fraser Nelson reveals the cynicism behind Ed Balls' call for tax cuts. James Forsyth says green energy must be price-competitive before we try to move everyone onto it, and thinks that, if Tory Ministers won’t get behind the NHS reforms, they can’t expect anybody else to. Jonathan Jones reports on William Hague's warning of a new Cold War, and takes a look at the tax debate dominating the run-up to the Budget. On the Book Blog, Sir Peter Bottomley MP reveals a love of Unpopular Opinions. On the Arts Blog, Jerry Hayes reviews A Daughter's Tale, the memoir of Winston Churchill's youngest daughter, Mary Soames.
Saturday
10-5
From our UK edition
