10-3
From our UK edition
The Spectator
Saturday
9
From our UK edition
8
From our UK edition
7
From our UK edition
6
From our UK edition
5-5
From our UK edition
4-3
From our UK edition
3
From our UK edition
2
From our UK edition
1
From our UK edition
Letters | 14 January 2012
From our UK edition
Pick your battleSir: In your leading article ‘Save the Union’ (7 January), you allude to Alex Salmond’s plan to hold a referendum on Scottish independence shortly after the 700th anniversary of the battle on Bannockburn. I suggest a referendum on the 500th anniversary of the battle of Flodden Field (September 2013) when we English comprehensively scotched the ambitions of our northern neighbour. Voting should be for Scots both north and south of the border. (If voting included the English, the Scots would certainly be bundled off.) Alan Naismith-Binder Speldhurst, Kent War elephantsSir: Patrick Allitt (‘Elephant trap’, 7 January) nicely pegs some of the difficulties that the Republican candidates face ahead of the 2012 election against President Obama.
Barometer | 14 January 2012
From our UK edition
War horsesSteven Spielberg’s film War Horse was released this week. How many horses were killed in British Army service during the first world war? — According to the Official History of the War Veterinary Services, it was 484,143. — Michael Morpurgo, on the other hand, says he asked the Imperial War Museum before writing War Horse in 1982, and was told ‘at least a million’. — And on the German side? 9,586,000, according to the dedication of a German history of the war published in 1929. Sick buildingsHammersmith Flyover has been closed because it has a form of corrosion known as ‘concrete cancer’.
Portrait of the week | 14 January 2012
From our UK edition
HomeThe High Speed 2 rail link between London and Birmingham is to go ahead, Justine Greening, the Secretary of State for Transport, announced. The stretch to Birmingham would be completed by 2026, but a connection to Heathrow not until 2033, when the extensions to Manchester and Leeds would be finished. The cost of the project would be £32.7 billion. David Cameron, the Prime Minister, said in a separate initiative that shareholders would be empowered to limit the pay of company executives. Bob Holness, one of the first presenters on Radio 2 from 1967 and later the presenter of the television game Blockbusters, died, aged 83. ••• Mr Cameron said he wanted Scotland to hold a binding referendum on independence earlier than 2014.
Cameron’s best weapon
From our UK edition
When Ed Miliband stands up in the House of Commons, he might be surprised to hear the loudest cheers coming from the wrong side of the chamber. He is becoming an unlikely Tory champion, the man who’ll do more than anyone else to ensure that David Cameron wins an outright majority at the next general election. Labour MPs grumble, but loyalty is hardwired into their collective DNA. As Gordon Brown knew, the word ‘unity’ has a near-hypnotic effect on his party. Labour has never ejected a bad leader. Unlike the Tories, they have not mastered the art of political regicide. So Labour seems to be stuck with a leader whom its MPs are unwilling to support or supplant. Miliband was little-known when elected.
Friday
The week that was | 13 January 2012
From our UK edition
Here are some of the posts made on Spectator.co.uk over the past week: Fraser Nelson says the battle for Britain has begun, and explains why IDS's welfare reforms are so important. James Forsyth looks at the battle lines being drawn over Scotland and wonders if Spain might prevent its independence. Peter Hoskin reports on Ed Miliband's insipid speech and asks what's next for the welfare reforms. From Edinburgh, Hamish Macdonell says Alex Salmond's running rings around Cameron. Jonathan Jones reports on Mitt Romney's comfortable win in New Hampshire, and takes an early look at the Obama-Romney electoral map.
Monday
Just in case you missed them… | 9 January 2012
From our UK edition
...here are some of the posts made on Spectator.co.uk over the weekend: Fraser Nelson asks why Ed Miliband stopped his brother becoming Labour leader. James Forsyth looks at the implications of HS2 on the Cabinet, and reports on Cameron's latest attempt to redefine fairness. Peter Hoskin says Miliband's position is under increasing threat, and asks what's more important to David Cameron: actual fairness or presentational fairness? Jonathan Jones examines Ed Miliband's boastful Guardian interview, and says that the Democrats stand ready to face Mitt Romney. Martin Bright says now is not the time for Ed to share his view of his own capacities with us. On the Book Blog, Pamela Nash MP reveals her love for Roald Dahl and Twilight.
Saturday
Books
From our UK edition
Tony Husband
From our UK edition
Newman 19
From our UK edition
Ajs 10
From our UK edition
