The Spectator

Saturday

The Spectator

Letters | 24 September 2011

Euro bonds Sir: In your leading article, ‘A new deal with Europe’ (17 September), you argue that as Brussels will not agree to radical reform and massive deregulation, the only remaining options are to renegotiate our membership of the European Union or ‘pull out entirely’. However, we must be clear that unilateral withdrawal is out of the question. Over half the UK’s manufactured exports to the EU would face zero tariffs whether we were in or out of the EU. But if the UK left the EU without any new preferential trade agreement the remainder would face an average EU tariff of over 5 per cent, a decisive handicap in many price-sensitive markets. In particular, the vital UK car manufacturing sector would face EU tariffs of 10 per cent.

The Spectator

Barometer | 24 September 2011

Objects in space — The six tonne US Upper Atmosphere Research Satellite was due to fall to Earth, with Nasa calculating that it has a one in 3,200 risk of striking a human. It poses less of a risk, however, than the 75 tonne Skylab did when it re-entered the Earth’s atmosphere in 1979. In the event, it fell on an uninhabited region of Western Australia. — There is plenty more potential danger from space junk, with an estimated 19,000 pieces of man-made material greater than 100mm across orbiting the Earth, including a glove and a camera dropped by astronauts. Most will burn up in space when they re-enter, but one which could cause problems is Vanguard 1, a satellite launched in 1958 which is expected to fall to Earth in 240 years’ time.

The Spectator

Portrait of the week | 24 September 2011

Home The International Monetary Fund reduced its growth forecast for Britain this year from 1.5 per cent to 1.1 per cent and for next year from 2.3 to 1.6 per cent. A debate rumbled on in government about whether to spend more money on public infrastructure works as dark financial clouds loomed. ‘What I will not do is provide cover for ideological descendants of those who sent children up chimneys,’ Vince Cable, the Business Secretary told the Liberal Democrat conference in Birmingham, in a speech warning of ‘difficult times ahead’ for Britain’s finances. Danny Alexander, the Chief Secretary to the Treasury, told the conference that the better off should pay more tax.

The Spectator

Leading article: Labour’s opportunity

By now, Ed Miliband should be feeling upbeat about next week’s Labour party conference. No matter what happens in Liverpool, it can’t be more debasing than the spectacle the Liberal Democrats laid on in Birmingham. The Lib Dems’ decision to insult their coalition partners did nothing to enhance their standing. If the Tories are, as Vince Cable put it, the ideological descendants of those who sent children up chimneys, why did his party join these villains in government? Against such juvenile behaviour, the Labour conference will, for the first time in years, look like a convention for grown-ups. All Ed Miliband needs to do is look as if he is leading a government-in-waiting. It is easy to dismiss Miliband.

Friday

The Spectator

The week that was | 23 September 2011

A selection of posts from the past seven days at spectator.co.uk Reporting from the frontline in Birmingham, James Forsyth felt the Lib Dems shouldn’t get complacent, despite Nick Clegg being on fine form. Fraser Nelson asked whether it was time to leave the EU. David Blackburn described how the ghost of Maastricht is haunting today’s frontbench and wondered if a minister could make a good ‘account director’. Jonathan Jones delved into the archives to bring us the article that ended Dominic Lawson’s career. In his journalistic debut, city financier ‘Bounderby’ explained what we can learn from the American QE debate. Clarissa Tan warned London not to get distracted from a Chinese invasion.

Thursday

Wednesday

The Spectator

WEB EXCLUSIVE: Spectator Europe Debate

It's time for Britain to leave the European Union. That was the motion at last night's Spectator debate. Rod Liddle officiated between the two sides, with Christopher Booker and Daniel Hannan supporting the motion and Denis MacShane and Phillip Sousta against. You can read Lloyd Evans' exclusive report of the evening's proceedings here.

Monday

The Spectator

CoffeeHousers’ Wall, 19 September – 25 September

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… | 19 September 2011

…here are some of the posts made at the Spectator.co.uk over the weekend. Fraser Nelson considers Nick Clegg’s leadership problem, and denigrates Sarah Teather’s Lib Dem conference speech. James Forsyth says the Lib Dem leadership fear Tim Farron, and explains the real split over the 50p rate. David Blackburn watches then Lib Dems’ celebrate their achievements, and has some highlights from Nick Clegg’s appearance on Andrew Marr. Siobhan Courtney provides another voice from the Dale Farm travellers’ site. Rod Liddle has a view on Kelis. And Alex Massie debunks some foreign policy hogwash.