The Spectator

Saturday

The Spectator

Letters | 16 July 2011

From our UK edition

No defending the tabloids Sir: Toby Young (Status anxiety, 9 July) suggests that we are only shocked by tabloid phone-hacking scandals because we are ignorant of the ways of tabloid journalism. He seems then to equate phone-hacking hacks with ‘these Fleet Street foot soldiers’ who are busy protecting us from becoming French (shudder) — i.e. even more corrupt. What? Are all the foot soldiers also hackers?

The Spectator

Barometer | 16 July 2011

From our UK edition

Achieving closure The News of the World has shut after 168 years, joining a long list of defunct British newspapers. Here are some of the more notable ones: Daily Herald Started in 1911 as a strike news sheet by the London Society of Compositors. Taken over by the TUC in 1922, in the 1930s it was briefly the world’s best-selling newspaper. Reborn as the Sun in 1964. Daily Sketch Founded in Manchester in 1909 by Sir Edward Hulton and bought in 1920 by Lord Rothermere. Merged with the Daily Graphic in 1946, re-emerging in 1953, when the Graphic renamed itself the Sketch. Merged with Daily Mail in 1971. Sunday Dispatch Founded in 1801, and bought by Lord Rothermere in 1903. Once the bestselling Sunday title, it failed to survive the television age, closing in 1961.

The Spectator

Portrait of the week | 16 July 2011

From our UK edition

Home The newspaper the News of the World was closed by Rupert Murdoch after 168 years as a response to revelations of phone hacking — breaking into telephone voicemail messages. Police were said to have 4,000 names that might have been targeted. There was public outcry after it was said that the phones of Milly Dowler, the murdered teenager; and of relatives of the Soham murder victims as well as of dead British soldiers and of those who died in the bombings on 7 July 2005, had been hacked. Police were also said to have been paid by journalists for telephone numbers of members of the royal family.

The Spectator

Leading article: In other news…

From our UK edition

While Britain is fixated on the fall of the house of Murdoch, a much greater drama is unfolding. While Britain is fixated on the fall of the house of Murdoch, a much greater drama is unfolding. The eurozone crisis has spread from Greece and is now threatening Italy, whose economy is five times larger. If Italy defaults, the continent will fall back into recession — and Britain will be in trouble. The great tap of international borrowing on which we depend may run dry again. The best chance of avoiding such a calamity rests with Angela Merkel and the patience of the German taxpayer. So far, however, Ms Merkel is refusing to create the tool which the Greeks and Italians want: a eurobond.

Friday

The Spectator

The week that was | 15 July 2011

From our UK edition

Here is a selection of posts made at Spectator.co.uk over the last week.Fraser Nelson says the demise of the News of the World is a blow to an already struggling industry. James Forsyth watches Gordon Brown give one of the most one-sided versions of history ever, and reports on George Osborne’s worries about the eurozone. Peter Hoskin notes that OBR is sounding dire warnings, and says we should remain cautious about inflation. David Blackburn makes the case for the defence of Rupert Murdoch, and exposes Ken Livingstone’s hypocrisy. Jonathan Jones notes that British euroscepticism is hardening, and celebrates a victory for common sense. Alex Massie ponders the biography of a nobody.

Monday

The Spectator

CoffeeHousers’ Wall, 11 July – 17 July

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… | 11 July 2011

From our UK edition

…here are some of the posts made at Spectator.co.uk over the weekend. Fraser Nelson bids farewell to the News of the World. James Forsyth wonders where the phone hacking scandal will end, and reacts to John Major’s proposals on the future of Scotland. Peter Hoskin says that the phone hacking scandal is sticking to Downing Street, and previews the public service reform White Paper. David Blackburn examines Chris Huhne’s stance on rising energy prices, and looks at the latest twist in the GOP’s race for the White House. And Nick Cohen says Ed Miliband has been speaking for Britain.

Saturday