23 July 2011 Cartoon Pg 14
The Spectator
Saturday
Letters | 23 July 2011
Spectator readers respond to recent articles Selective indignation Sir: People are — quite correctly — very offended by the phone-hacking antics of the News of the World journalists and editors. But did any of these (now) horrendously affronted guardians of the rights of individual privacy give the slightest damn when similarly disgusting reporters were so gleefully reporting the (hacked) private conversations of Prince Charles and Camilla Parker-Bowles? No sensible person condones the actions of the News of the World, or of its editors and journalists. But I, for one, do not find their actions nearly as sickening as the revoltingly selective indignation with which we are now being so continuously bombarded.
Barometer | 23 July 2011
Select company The appearance of Rupert Murdoch before the House of Commons Culture, Media and Sport Committee confirmed that some of the best action in parliament is now before select committees, not in the chamber. — Select committees were around in the 18th century, when they were convened for particular purposes. An early one, in 1763, examined ‘the state of private madhouses’. They fell into disuse in the 20th century, when their work was taken over by inquiries made up of non-MPs. — The idea of permanent committees of MPs to examine the work of the government dates from 1966, when Richard Crossman, then leader of the House of Commons, set up two: one into agriculture and one into science and technology.
Portrait of the week | 23 July 2011
This week's Portrait of the week Home David Cameron, the Prime Minister, cut short a trade mission to South Africa, returning to give a statement on the phone hacking scandal to the Commons, which delayed its summer recess. Rupert Murdoch, the chief executive of News Corporation, appeared before a select committee of the Commons investigating the scandal, with his son James, the chief of News Corporation Europe and Asia. ‘I was absolutely shocked, appalled and ashamed when I heard about the Milly Dowler case two weeks ago,’ Mr Murdoch Senior told the committee, but the responsibility for what went on at the News of the World was that of ‘the people I trusted to run it and maybe the people they trusted’.
Leading article: The power of ideas
As Keynes observed, the power of ideas — good ones and tragic, wrong-headed ones — is far greater than is commonly understood. As Keynes observed, the power of ideas — good ones and tragic, wrong-headed ones — is far greater than is commonly understood. The Thatcher counter-revolution in the 1980s was made possible by intellectual bulldozing a decade earlier. It took Sir Keith Joseph and Centre for Policy Studies to clear the way for Britain’s economic regeneration. The blueprint for the social regeneration now underway was written by another think-tank, the Centre for Social Justice, whose ideas are now being implemented by Iain Duncan Smith.
Friday
The week that was | 22 July 2011
Here is a selection of posts made at Spectator.co.uk over the past week. Fraser Nelson calls on MPs to save ‘Gobby’, and reflects on an odd parliamentary drama. James Forsyth says that there is a feeling that David Cameron has turned the corner over phone hacking, and wonders where Cameron’s praetorians might be. David Blackburn asks if Angela Merkel is getting her way over the Greek deal, and notes that Britain is fighting the European Commission over banking reform. Jonathan Jones examines the non-effect of hackgate. Alex Massie considers Westminster’s ‘festina’ affair. The Arts Blog is talking about pop music.
Monday
CoffeeHousers’ Wall, 18 July – 24 July
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.
Just in case you missed them… | 18 July 2011
…here are some of the posts made at Spectator.co.uk over the weekend. James Forsyth says that the phone hacking spotlight is turning onto the police, reacts to Sir Paul Stephenson’s resignation, and notes how much ammunition Stephenson has given Labour. David Blackburn watches European financial institutions attack the EU’s latest answer to the Eurozone crisis, considers Andrew Mitchell’s long-term goals in giving aid to Somalia, and points out that Ed Miliband’s new moral order is tough on the press but lax on the police. Alex Massie responds to the arrest of Rebekah Brooks. The Arts Blog reviews the new biography of Ed Miliband. And the Books Blog has collected a selection of off-beat literary links.
