The Spectator

Monday

The Spectator

Just in case you missed them… | 4 April 2011

…here are some of the posts made at Spectator.co.uk over the weekend. James Forsyth says that the government is in a hole of its own making over the NHS, and explains why parliamentary privilege is threatened by hyper-injunctions. David Blackburn describes the findings of the Treasury Select Committee's report into commercial banking, and reveals some of the internal government forces to trying to upset Andrew Lansley's health reforms. Clarissa Tan itemises the immense costs of the earthquake in Japan. Martin Bright says that the SWP is not the BS. Nick Cohen argues that Billy Bragg hypocrisy is endemic, which is bad news for the Lib Dems. And Rod Liddle is perturbed by the return of Baldrick.

Saturday

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Letters | 2 April 2011

Let Libya split Sir: Back in the days of Good King Idris, I did archaeological fieldwork in Cyrenaica in which I traced the main water supply of ancient Ptolemais from its source to the city’s cisterns. I came to know my patch pretty well and I feel that Peter Jones (‘The two Libyas’, 26 March) has got it right. The most sensible course would be to return to the original frontier between Cyrenaica and the rest of the country, as the present state of Libya was a botched affair thrown together in the wake of the Italian defeat in the second world war. The immediate problem as we all know is to stop the Barbary pirate of Tripoli from exacting his revenge on the people of Cyrenaica, and that is very much a European problem — unlike Iraq.

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Barometer | 2 April 2011

Flowering wilderness A Bangor university study has claimed that Antarctica has become greener as the climate in the Western Peninsula has warmed. While most of Antarctica is under permanent snow and ice, one per cent of the continent’s surface area is warm enough in the summer for the snow to melt and expose two species of flowering plant, Antarctic hairgrass and Antarctic pearlwort. However, lichens are found closer to the interior of the continent. The world’s most southerly plant is a lichen found at 86 degrees south, about 260 miles from the South Pole. The most northerly is an arctic willow found at 83 degrees north, around 450 miles from the North Pole. Once bitten… Natural England proposes repopulating parts of the country with adders.

The Spectator

Portrait of the week | 2 April 2011

Home At a conference on Libya held in London, representatives of more than 40 nations and international bodies declared that Colonel Gaddafi’s regime had ‘lost legitimacy and will be held accountable for their actions’. Hillary Clinton, the US Secretary of State, told delegates that attacks would continue until Colonel Gaddafi met UN terms, and that supplying arms to the rebels was not prohibited. Outside, 100 protesters chanted: ‘Go to hell, Cameron.’ HMS Ark Royal was advertised for sale online. In Northampton a cat called Smokey was found to purr at 73 decibels. About 250,000 people marched through London in a TUC demonstration against spending cuts. Ed Miliband, the leader of the opposition, told them: ‘I am proud to stand with you.

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Leader: Police, cameras, action

How the paparazzi must have groaned about Prince William’s low-key stag do, which took place in secret last weekend. Last weekend, a relatively peaceful anti-cuts march through the capital was infiltrated by a small number of criminals armed with crowbars and intent on destruction. Their handiwork defined the march. All it took were a few iconic photographs — Santander’s windows being smashed, the occupation of Fortnum & Mason — and London looked to the world like a city under siege. The Metropolitan police could have and should have dealt with these disruptive thugs, but instead, as they wielded their weapons, they were surrounded not by police officers but by a throng of excited photographers.

Friday

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The week that was | 1 April 2011

Here is a selection of articles made at Spectator.co.uk over the past week. Fraser Nelson says we need a rational debate about climate change. James Forsyth reveals that the coalition is straining under the pressure of AV, and comments on Boris’ ability to infuriate Labour. Peter Hoskin introduces another Libyan question, and has a memo for Johann Hari. David Blackburn notes that the government is finally taking steps to reform council funding, and illustrates that the Cameron government has been just as gullible as New Labour about Gaddafi. Daniel Korski has been in Libya. Martin Bright explains why criticism is good for the Arts Council. Nick Cohen reveals the identity of the Tory party’s secret weapon.

Monday

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CoffeeHousers’ Wall, 28 March – 3 April

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… | 28 March 2011

…here are some of the posts made at Spectator.co.uk over the weekend. Fraser Nelson praises diversion, and reveals how much we’re still paying for Gordon Brown. James Forsyth thinks that Ed Miliband made a strategic mistake by marching without an alternative, and explains why Cameron is so keen on start-ups. Peter Hoskin discerns nerves in the Lib Dems. David Blackburn wonders why Ed Miliband addressed the march, and notes that Lord Lawson has some advice for the Chancellor. Daniel Korski reports that the Libyan rebels are on the offensive, and is keeping a Cairo diary. Martin Bright asks if the coalition knows what it is doing. Rod Liddle has news of Gordon. And Alex Massie is convinced that Ed Miliband is deluded.

Saturday

The Spectator

Letters | 26 March 2011

All in the delivery Sir: Toby Young’s opinions about Cardinal Vaughan school (Status anxiety, 19 March) are subjective and misguided. When seeking a new headteacher, our governing body will be looking for the best person to fill that role and that is all. Cardinal Vaughan is rated ‘outstanding’ and there is every commitment, from the Archbishop of Westminster downwards, to ensure that rating is maintained. On the question of sharing expertise, I would remind the Spectator that at its own recent conference on education, the Secretary of State, Michael Gove, talked about the need for partnership among schools.

The Spectator

Barometer | 26 March 2011

Night shift The BBC director general, Mark Thompson, says the corporation may cut the £150 million a year it spends on night-time programming, with the ‘theoretical possibility’ that insomniac viewers might be left with a black screen. — Although it is now taken for granted, 24-hour television is a relatively recent phenomenon. It wasn’t until 1972 that daytime ITV viewers could be sure of anything to watch, while BBC2 used to go off-air in the daytime until 1986. In the same year Yorkshire television became the first terrestrial station to offer night-time viewing, which consisted of music videos. — BBC1 continued to send viewers to bed with a ‘closedown’ ceremony involving the national anthem until 8 November 1997.

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Portrait of the week | 26 March 2011

Home David Cameron, the Prime Minister, said that attacks on Libya to protect civilians from Colonel Gaddafi were ‘necessary, legal and right’. He told the Commons that the UN resolution authorising them ‘explicitly does not provide legal authority for action to bring about Gaddafi’s removal from power by military means’. MPs voted by 557 to 13 in support of the military action. The moon came within 221,565 miles of the earth, its closest since 1993. In a budget that he called fiscally neutral, George Osborne, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, announced consultation on unifying income tax and National Insurance. He removed 43 tax relief measures to simplify the system.

The Spectator

Leader: Osborne can go further

Every time George Osborne has been in serious trouble, he has produced a tax cut — and it has worked perfectly. Osborne can go further Every time George Osborne has been in serious trouble, he has produced a tax cut — and it has worked perfectly. He did it again in his budget, and the reception was rapturous. Herein lies a clue. It is not just that Britain is horribly overtaxed. The battle the Chancellor is now fighting is very different to the one he prepared for. Inflation stands at its most destructively high levels for 20 years, decimating the value of savings and depressing living standards. Anxiety about cuts has been supplanted by fear about the cost of living. More than anything else, the Chancellor needs to be able to say, ‘I am on your side’.

Friday

The Spectator

The week that was | 25 March 2011

Here is a selection of posts about this week’s Budget, made at Spectator.co.uk. Coffee House ran a live blog of the Chancellor’s statement and the Leader of the Opposition’s response. Fraser Nelson has ten questions for the OBR. James Forsyth considers the politics of Osborne’s measures. Peter Hoskin wonders if Osborne has done enough to deal with inflation. The Adam Smith Institute’s Tom Clougherty decrees the Budget a qualified plus. The Resolution Foundation's James Plunkett reckons that Osborne the Reformer remains a work in progress. And Matthew Sinclair of the Taxpayer’s Alliance considers the plan to merge income tax with national insurance.

Wednesday

The Spectator

Budget 2011 round-up

Coffee House ran a live blog of the Chancellor’s statement and the Leader of the Opposition’s response. In addition to that, here is a selection of posts from Spectator.co.uk on the Budget: Fraser Nelson says Osborne’s cuts have got softer. James Forsyth considers the Budget’s political implications, and witnesses Ed Balls’ mischievous response. Peter Hoskin asks if Osborne has done enough to deal with inflation, and examines the macro-economic picture. The Adam Smith Institute issues a qualified positive. The Resolution Foundation says that Osborne the Reformer is an unfinished work. The Institute for Economic Affairs says the Budget was disappointing for promoting growth.

Monday

The Spectator

CoffeeHousers’ Wall, 21 March – 27 March 

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… | 21 March 2011

…here are some of the posts made at Spectator.co.uk over the weekend. Fraser Nelson makes some Budget predictions, and describes a threat to British liberty. James Forsyth explains why Osborne is so keen to unite National Insurance and Income Tax, and analyses the weekend’s events in Libya. David Blackburn notes that Sarkozy is being lauded by the French press, and reckons that Obama’s vacillation suits Gaddafi. Daniel Korski wants NATO to get a move on. Alex Massie thinks that the goals of the Libyan operation must be clarified. And Melanie Phillips is stuck in Wonderland.

Saturday

The Spectator

Letters | 19 March 2011

On suffrage Sir: In his article ‘Failure of the Feminists’ (12 March), Paul Johnson asserts that some women would have got the vote in Britain well before 1914 if ‘feminists’ had been willing to accept property qualifications. In fact the stated aim of the major suffrage societies was to achieve the vote on the same terms as men, which before 1918 meant with a property qualification. They had been quite happy in the 1890s to accept the municipal vote on these terms. It was the Liberal leadership (and, initially, the Labour party) that opposed women’s suffrage on the grounds that the class of women who would get the vote under equal franchise would be likely to vote Conservative.

The Spectator

Barometer | 19 March 2011

Midsomer and Soham The producer of ITV’s murder-mystery series Midsomer Murders was suspended after saying he didn’t want black characters on the show because it was ‘the last bastion of Englishness’. While many English villages still reflect Midsomer in their colour, it is over 200 years since a black man first settled in the English countryside. — Olaudah Equiano, a Nigerian-born slave who managed to buy his freedom, married in 1792 in the village of Soham, Cambridgeshire — now best known nationally for the murder of two school girls by Ian Huntley in 2002. — Equiano wrote an autobiography and died in 1797.

The Spectator

Portrait of the week | 19 March 2011

Home David Cameron, the Prime Minister, told the Commons that a no-fly zone over Libya was ‘perfectly deliverable’. Next day, G8 foreign ministers meeting in Paris failed to agree to one. Britain, France and Lebanon put a resolution to the United Nations. Chris Huhne, the Energy Secretary, said ‘We should not rush to judgment’ on nuclear energy in Britain in light of the damage in Japan.  An emergency meeting of the British Medical Association called on the government to withdraw the Health Bill and start again. Tickets for the Olympic Games in London next year went on sale. An Olympic countdown clock in Trafalgar Square stopped.