The Spectator

Saturday

The Spectator

Letters | 3 December 2011

From our UK edition

Women for Islamic lawSir: Douglas Murray’s article (‘After spring, winter’, 26 November) was well written, but it missed a crucial point. What we are seeing in the Arab Spring is an awakening of a political Islam that is neither strictly ‘Islamist’ nor compatible with liberal ideals of freedom. The phenomenon is driven in large part by Muslim women, who want rid of secular autocracy but also believe that government should be run according to Islamic laws and principles. There are many contradictions and tensions within this emerging phenomenon. Yet it is important not to ignore it.

The Spectator

Barometer | 3 December 2011

From our UK edition

Gross domestic productsThe Office for Budget Responsibility downgraded UK GDP growth for 2011 to 0.9 per cent, down from 1.7 per cent. How many extra manufactured products does a 0.9 per cent growth in GDP — £12.56 million — translate to? 4.6bn 250g jars of Marmite60m Dyson vacuum cleaners34m pairs of Church’s shoes1m Mini hatchbacks1,200 Rolls-Royce jet engines Counting spermWi-Fi zones became the latest culprit to be named in scientific literature as a possible contributory factor in falling sperm counts – which have dropped from around 100 million to 60 million sperm cells per ml in developed countries over the past century.

The Spectator

Portrait of the week | 3 December 2011

From our UK edition

HomePublic borrowing will exceed previous forecasts by £5 billion this year, £19 billion next year and £30 billion in 2013-14, George Osborne, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, said in an Autumn Statement delivered under dark clouds. The ratio of debt to GDP would rise to a peak of 78 per cent in 2014-15. He noted that the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) had revised forecasts for growth this year to 0.9 per cent (from the 1.7 per cent predicted in March), and for next year to 0.7 per cent. There would be a 1 per cent cap on public sector pay rises, he said. The 3p rise in fuel duty due in January was cancelled, but a 3p rise would come in next August.

The Spectator

The forgotten workers

From our UK edition

It was a reasonable guess that, once the government had appointed a group of the great and good to investigate the summer riots, somehow we would all have to share the blame. It is a central tenet of liberal Britain that while criminals may share some of the blame for the acts which they perpetrate, they are invariably driven to committing them through the negligence and callousness of the rest of us. Meanwhile, the real problems — those created by an unreformed welfare system — are ignored. The Riots, Communities and Victims Panel has certainly not let us down on this score. Among the factors it blames for the riots in its interim report published this week is ‘conspicuous consumption’.

Friday

The Spectator

The week that was | 2 December 2011

From our UK edition

Here are some of the posts made on Spectator.co.uk over the past week: The Autumn Statement Fraser Nelson says that, with growth evaporating, Osborne's chosen more debt over more cuts. Peter Hoskin points out that the dreary forecasts might actually be far too optimistic. James Forsyth thinks Osborne did well considering the situation, and still has the upper hand. Jonathan Jones looks at what the public made of it all. And Peter Hoskin and Jonathan Jones present the key points in chart form. Fraser Nelson sifts through the latest report on this summer's riots. Peter Hoskin takes a stroll around Westminster to meet the strikers.

Monday

The Spectator

Oh come, all ye Speccie readers

From our UK edition

A brief post to alert CoffeeHousers to The Spectator's carol concert, which is taking place next Wednesday in the beautiful St Bride's Church on Fleet Street. It promises to be a suitably Christmassy affair. There will be carols from the choir of St Bride's; readings from Jeremy Clarke, Rod Liddle, Rory Sutherland and the Mary behind ‘Dear Mary’; as well as Winter Pimm's, mince pies and hot chestnuts served outside the church. All that remains is for you to buy one of the few remaining tickets. It would be wonderful to see you there, so please do get a-clicking.

The Spectator

CoffeeHousers’ Wall, 28 November – 4 December 2011

From our UK edition

Welcome to the latest CoffeeHousers' Wall. For those who haven't come across the Wall before, it's a post we put up each Monday, on which — providing your writing isn't libellous, crammed with swearing, or offensive to common decency — you'll be able to say whatever you like in the comments section. There is no topic, so there's no need to stay 'on topic', which means you'll be able to debate with each other more freely and extensively. There's also no constraint on the length of what you write — so, in effect, you can become Coffee House bloggers. Anything's fair game, from political stories in your local paper, to chat about the latest football results.

The Spectator

Just in case you missed them… | 28 November 2011

From our UK edition

…here are some of the posts made at Spectator.co.uk over the weekend. Fraser Nelson says that Osborne and Balls are like wrestlers, putting on a show but doing no real fighting. And on the Arts Blog, he picks his ten favourite cover versions. James Forsyth reports that the Tories are getting fed up with the Lib Dems' efforts to show they're the governing party that cares. Peter Hoskin warns that downgraded growth forecasts will scupper Osborne's plans, and looks at the battles flaring up ahead of Tuesday's autumn statement. Daniel Korski suggests how the UK could see off proposals for a Tobin tax in the EU. And on the Book Blog, Robert Halfon reveals what he's reading and which character he'd most like to be.

Saturday