The Spectator

Monday

The Spectator

Just in case you missed them… | 12 September 2011

From our UK edition

…here are some of the posts made at Spectator.co.uk over the weekend. Fraser Nelson witnesses the commemorations of the tenth anniversary of 9/11 in New York, and considers the ramifications of more QE. Siobhan Courtney asks if it is better to be married. Hamish MacDonell reveals that the SNP is opening up its lead in Scotland. James Forsyth examines the coalition’s conundrum over Europe, and explains the Stark divisions prevailing in the Eurozone.      Daniel Korski asks where the Arab Spring leaves Israel. And the Arts Blog has a compilation of songs remembering 9/11.

Saturday

The Spectator

Letters | 10 September 2011

From our UK edition

Valuable lessons Sir: The Spectator deserves great credit for having so long trumpeted and encouraged the free schools agenda, which finally came to fruition this week. British education is a mess, and we are lucky to have, in Michael Gove, an Education Secretary determined to bring about radical change. One might have doubts about the ‘free’ thinking — and, to me, The Spectator has at times seemed too eager to put its faith in the power of the market to fix all social ills. But to try is better than to fail. Free schools might not meet all the lofty ambitions placed upon them, but at least they will help loosen the stranglehold of self-serving teachers’ unions and quangos, who have taken away so much from our young.

The Spectator

Barometer: Squatters’ rights

From our UK edition

A judge has described squatting as ‘good for society’ and called for lists of empty homes to be made available to an agency for squatters, while the Justice Secretary, Kenneth Clarke, is attempting to ­strengthen the law against squatting. How do laws on the subject vary across Europe? Britain Breaking and entering is a criminal offence, but if you can enter a building without breaking in, it is not a criminal offence to occupy it. The owner must obtain an eviction order through the civil courts.      France Squatting is illegal, but squatters can apply to the state to have empty homes requisitioned, and may not be evicted during the winter. Germany Squatting is illegal, and Berlin’s last openly squatted property was cleared last year.

The Spectator

Portrait of the Week – 10 September 2011

From our UK edition

Home George Osborne, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, said in a speech in the City: ‘We have all had to revise down our short-term expectations over recent weeks.’ Industrial production for the United Kingdom fell by 0.2 per cent in July. House prices, according to the Halifax, fell by 1.2 per cent from July to August. The Dixons group reported a like-for-like fall in sales of 7 per cent against a year earlier. Twenty economists wrote a letter to the Financial Times saying that the 50p tax rate was inflicting ‘lasting damage’ on the British economy.

The Spectator

Leading article: A failure of planning

From our UK edition

David Cameron has been struggling to get across what he means by his Big Society project, but he has nonetheless succeeded spectacularly in motivating previously apathetic and distant neighbours to get together and give up their time for a common purpose. Unfortunately for the Prime Minister, that purpose is to stop his planning policy. True, the National Trust — which launched a campaign against the government’s planning reforms last week — often comes across as a lavender-scented enemy of progress. But there is little question that its views reflect those of millions of people who ought to be this government’s natural supporters.

Friday

The Spectator

The week that was | 9 September 2011

From our UK edition

Here are some of the posts made at Spectator.co.uk over the last week. Freddy Gray says the riots were informed by a "hip hop culture" and reports on Wednesday night's Republican debate.  Fraser Nelson asks "Who were the rioters?" and says Osborne should drop the 50p tax rate. James Forsyth reports on the breakdown of relations between Nick Clegg and his Tory Cabinet colleagues and reveals that Eric Pickles will be in charge of dealing with Britain's "problem families". David Wooding says the News of the World fire is still burning strong. Justin Marozzi, our man in Triploi, reveals the contents of a Gaddafi's school notebook and says that oil will be central to Libya's future.

Thursday