The Spectator

Monday

The Spectator

CoffeeHousers’ Wall, 22 August – 28 August 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… | 22 August 2011

From our UK edition

…here are some of the posts made at Spectator.co.uk over the weekend. Fraser Nelson says the far right should be allowed to ‘perish in the sunlight’, and ponders the end of Gaddafi. James Forsyth applauds a burst of common sense from Eric Pickles, and says that Europe is likely to become a key issue in the autumn. David Blackburn examines the Starkey affair, and notes that the row over human rights has far reaching consequences. Martin Bright calls for action on youth unemployment. And the Arts Blog gets to grips with the final instalment of Chris Mullin’s diaries.

Saturday

The Spectator

Letters | 20 August 2011

From our UK edition

Violent by nature Sir: Amongst the sociological why-oh-why-ery trying to explain the motivation of the rioters, the simplest explanation has been overlooked: human nature is utterly violent and wicked. Conservatism — the heir of Christianity in this respect — realises this. Recent work on violence in hunter-gatherer societies has demolished sociological explanations of violence: it is not society that makes people violent but our nature, evolved over the last 100,000 years. Forty per cent of Rousseau’s ‘noble savages’ in primitive hunter-gatherer societies die at the hands of another. We are all descended from successful rapists.

The Spectator

Barometer | 20 August 2011

From our UK edition

Bishops and rioters From the Scarman report to ‘Faith in the City’, no British riot is complete without politicians and churchmen weighing in with the answers. It was no different in the 13th century. In 1272 the townsmen of Norwich rioted after the prior to the city’s monastery refused to allow the arrest of monastic servants charged with murder. The cathedral was burned down. In response, the bishop excommunicated the townsfolk, but two years later the Pope was asked to pass judgment. He deferred to Edward I, who besides ordering the townsmen to pay 3,000 marks towards rebuilding the cathedral, produced an agreement with a phrase worthy of a primary school headmistress: ‘That all parties should be real friends.

The Spectator

Portrait of the week | 20 August 2011

From our UK edition

Home Of the 1,179 people who had appeared in court on charges arising from the riots by 15 August, two thirds were remanded in custody. The number of arrests by then had reached 2,772. Seven were arrested in connection with the murder of three Asian men in Birmingham, knocked down by a car. Tariq Jahan, the father of one of them, had appealed for calm after the murder: ‘I lost my son. Blacks, Asians, whites — we all live in the same community. Why do we have to kill one another?’ A 16-year-old boy was charged with the murder of Richard Bowes, aged 68, who had been attacked as he had tried to put out a fire in Ealing. A man was charged over the robbery seen on television of a Malaysian student with a jaw broken in an earlier assault, under the guise of helping him.

The Spectator

Leading article: Home truths

From our UK edition

For a man with many troubles of his own, George Osborne is being remarkably generous in his advice to our European neighbours. The Chancellor believes the eurozone countries should slowly merge their tax and spending systems, moving towards ever-closer union. Rather sadistic advice, given that he wants Britain to stand well clear of this unfolding disaster. But it is being repeated so often that a dangerous position is emerging. The government’s European policy seems to be to advocate remedies for other countries, rather than pursuing what’s best for Britain. This week, we saw Nicolas Sarkozy and Angela Merkel agree to walk a little down this fateful road — perhaps with a harmonised corporation tax, presumably to deter competition between their countries.

Friday

The Spectator

The week that was | 19 August 2011

From our UK edition

Here are some of the posts made at Spectator.co.uk over the last week. Fraser Nelson has a web exclusive of his magazine interview with IDS, and notes that inflation has risen yet again. James Forsyth laments the missed opportunity to transform, and compares Cameron and Miliband’s responses to the riots. David Blackburn examines Merkel and Sarkozy's latest solution for the Eurozone, and says that Clegg has made his mark on the riots issue. Martin Bright reckons there are no easy answers to Britain’s social crisis. Nick Cohen praises Gordon Brown for the one and only time. Rod Liddle asks if David Starkey is a racist. Alex Massie argues that Bill Bratton could have helped both Labour and Tories.

Monday

The Spectator

CoffeeHousers’ Wall, 15 August – 21 August

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… | 15 August 2011

From our UK edition

…here are some of the posts made at Spectator.co.uk over the weekend. Fraser Nelson points out that Bill Bratton has advised the British government before, and reiterates the case for an inquiry into the recent riots. James Forsyth says that Cameron must not be bullied into silence by the police, and argues that Crispin Blunt’s flawed prisoners' rehabilitation programme must be reversed. David Blackburn thinks that Sarko’s euro tonic may not be the perfect medicine, and notes that the police have opened another front against the government. Jonathan Jones has news from the Republican battle. And The Arts Blog has been talking to Ron Arad.