The Spectator

Saturday

The Spectator

Media Meltdown

The extraordinary images from Japan over the past week evoke not only sympathy but awe. The damage wreaked by the natural disasters, in both human and economic terms, has been colossal. Entire communities have been reduced to little more than shattered glass and driftwood. The death toll is already well into the thousands, with more bodies being washed up on the country’s shores each day. Yet what we see in Japan is not despair; it is an extraordinary stoicism. Strangers helping each other as if they were family. A nation pulling together. The hysteria has come not from the Japanese people, but from the rest of the world. The tsunami’s death toll may run into the tens of thousands, yet western attention is instead fixated on the damaged Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant.

Friday

The Spectator

The week that was | 18 March 2011

Here is a selection of posts made at Spectator.co.uk over the past week. Fraser Nelson has news of more woe at the FCO. James Forsyth asks if two Eds are better than one, and notes that a rattled Cameron battled through PMQs.   Peter Hoskin has three graphs that feature in both David Cameron’s dreams and nightmares, and analyses Labour’s economic policy. David Blackburn says that Enda Kenny is playing for time, and reveals that the Big Society is recovering. Nick Cohen wants your help. Rod Liddle considers Midsomer. Alex Massie ponders Sir Fred Goodwin’s penance. And Melanie Phillips laments the British media.

Monday

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CoffeeHousers’ Wall, 14 March – 20 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… | 14 March 2011

…here are some of the posts made at Spectator.co.uk over the weekend. Fraser Nelson is becoming increasingly impressed with David Cameron’s stance on Libya, and dissects Nick Clegg’s liberalism. James Forsyth reviews Nick Clegg’s performance at a conference Q&A, and reveals how Clegg intends to ease his party’s trauma. Peter Hoskin notes that Ed Balls is once again on Clegg’s case, and records the Arab League’s vital intervention. Daniel Korski urges the West to prepare for Gaddafi Mk.2. Clarissa Tan reports on China’s response to the Japanese earthquake. Rod Liddle considers the effects of the nuclear accident at Fukushima.

Saturday

The Spectator

Letters | 12 March 2011

Funny idea of fairness Sir: Congratulations to Ed Howker and The Spectator (‘The alternative story’, 26 February) for lifting the lid on the Electoral Reform Society, an organisation that appears to thrive from a conflict of interests. It was our misfortune to encounter the ERS during a controversial campaign at the Royal Geographical Society in 2009, when the organisation was supposed to ensure fair conduct ahead of and during a special general meeting called to discuss the future of exploration. The RGS decided to include comments from the then president, Sir Gordon Conway, telling fellows how to vote on the back of the ballot paper.

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Barometer | 12 March 2011

The first bureaucrat David Cameron described bureaucrats in the Civil Service as ‘the enemy within’ and vowed to get their backs off business. It has been a very long battle. The term ‘bureaucracy’ was coined by the French economist Jean Claude Marie Vincent de Gournay (1712–1759). Son of a wealthy merchant in St Malo, Vincent spent many years as a bureaucrat himself, as intendent of commerce and honorary adviser to the grand conseil. It was in his work that he became appalled by the regulations concerning the sale of cloth, which ran to four volumes, and took new entrants to the trade several years to learn. State offices were not created, he observed, to serve the public interest; rather the public interest was created to justify the offices.

The Spectator

Portrait of the week | 12 March 2011

Home Special forces accompanying British intelligence officers in a nocturnal visit by helicopter to territory near Benghazi were detained by the Libyan opposition before being taken off by the frigate Cumberland. William Hague, the Foreign Secretary, told the Commons he had known of the mission but not of the operational details. George Osborne, the Chancellor of the Exchequer said that the Government would set up new enterprise zones. Mervyn King, the Governor of the Bank of England, criticised bank bonuses and the concept of being ‘too big to fail’. Bob Diamond, chief executive of Barclays, received a £6.5 million bonus. Northern Rock made an annual loss of £232 million. A review by Tom Winsor recommended cuts to police overtime and allowances.

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Leader: Gaddafi’s revenge

Not even a month ago, it looked as though Colonel Gaddafi was going the way of Mubarak and Ben Ali — a bloodier process, certainly, but a seemingly irreversible one. Gaddafi’s revenge Not even a month ago, it looked as though Colonel Gaddafi was going the way of Mubarak and Ben Ali — a bloodier process, certainly, but a seemingly irreversible one. His generals mutinied, and pilots sent to bomb Libyan rebels flew to Malta. His ambassadors resigned. There was talk of imposing a no-fly zone, to help the Libyan rebels in the same way the Kurds were assisted in 1991. But then Gaddafi realised that the only opposition he faced from the outside world was verbal. Now, steadily, he is taking back Libya. The unthinkable seems to be happening.

Friday

The Spectator

The week that was | 11 March 2011

Here is a selection of articles made at Spectator.co.uk over the last week. Fraser Nelson analyses Labour’s inflation pitch. James Forsyth thinks that Cameron needs a Praetorian Guard, and reports on SpAd Wars. Peter Hoskin is intrigued by MiliD’s reappearance, and gives some context for police cuts. David Blackburn watches Eric Pickles go on the offensive, and considers Theresa May’s unenviable task. Martin Bright considers the enemies of enterprise. Nick Cohen denigrates Cameron’s decision to close the Quilliam Foundation. Rod Liddle is not at all surprised. Alex Massie puts tobacco into the Laffer curve. And Melanie Phillips laments a moral and strategic error.

Monday

The Spectator

CoffeeHousers’ Wall, 7 March – 13 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… | 7 March 2011

…here are some of the posts made at Spectator.co.uk over the weekend. Fraser Nelson explains why Ed Miliband is getting it right. James Forsyth reviews George Osborne’s and David Cameron’s respective speeches at the Conservative spring conference, and comments on two political interventions. David Blackburn says Enda Kenny is going to need the luck of the Irish. Daniel Korski evaluates the situation in Libya. Alex Morton considers the politics of planning. And Melanie Phillips highlights a little piece of hypocrisy.

Saturday

The Spectator

Letters | 5 March 2011

How Hamas won Sir: John R. Bradley writes, in support of his argument that free elections in Arab countries are likely to bring Islamists to power (‘Arabian nightmare’, 26 February): ‘Democracy came to Gaza and the Islamist group Hamas took power.’ He fails to consider the background to Hamas’s victory in the Palestinian general election of 2006 and subsequent takeover of Gaza. In 1996, the Palestinians’ first general election was won overwhelmingly by Fatah. It is true that Hamas refused to participate, but the high turnout and vote for Fatah indicate that Hamas would have done poorly, at a time when Palestinians believed they were going to gain their own state.

The Spectator

Portrait of the week | 5 March 2011

Home David Cameron, the Prime Minister, said, with regard to the crisis in Libya, ‘It is right for us to look at plans for a no-fly zone.’ Earlier, during his tour of the Middle East, he had apologised for the slow evacuation of British citizens from Libya. Nick Clegg, the Deputy Prime Minister, on being asked if he was in charge during Mr Cameron’s absence, said, ‘Yeah, I suppose I am. I forgot about that.’ He hurried back from a family skiing holiday. The British embassy in Tripoli was abandoned. HMS Cumberland, a British frigate on its way back to Britain to be scrapped, rescued 207 people from Tripoli and returned for more.

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Leader: Fostering liberty

Fostering liberty If David Cameron were looking for a couple to symbolise the spirit of his Big Society, Eunice and Owen Johns of Derby would be ideal. At an age when many are settling down to retirement, they want nothing more than to carry on fostering, taking in troubled and abandoned children in return for modest financial reward but a huge sense of fulfilment. Described in one assessment by Derby City Council as ‘kind and hospitable people who would always do their best to make a child welcome and comfortable’, they are perfect role models, it might be imagined, at a time when there is a national shortage of 10,000 foster parents. Yet the Johns will foster no more.

Friday

The Spectator

The week that was | 4 March 2011

Here are some of the posts made at Spectator.co.uk over the past week. James Forsyth considers the domestic politics of oil, and believes that Cameron must try to be a little more prime ministerial. Peter Hoskin reports on Miliband’s latest break with the past, and watches Osborne go on the offensive. David Blackburn argues that Eric Pickles needs to be ambitious, and believes that sooner or later the ECHR will catch-up with the government. Daniel Korski says that Britain needs to promote democracy abroad. The Taxpayers' Alliance and the HS2 project exchange blows. Nick Cohen explains why The Killing shows up British television. Rod Liddle notes that Populus has been reporting an unutterable truth.

Monday

The Spectator

CoffeeHousers’ Wall, 28 February – 6 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… | 28 February 2011

…here are some of the posts made at Spectator.co.uk over the weekend. Fraser Nelson says that corporatism is not a foreign policy. James Forsyth argues that the coalition must fear the charge of incompetence. Peter Hoskin warns Ed Balls against bragging, and considers Labour’s latest attack line. Daniel Korski defends the SDSR in the light of the Libyan crisis. Martin Bright recalls the Blair government’s shameful realpolitik in Libya. Rod Liddle asks how we should deal with the next batch of lunatics in the Middle East. Alex Massie wonders what Enda Kelly is going to do now. And Melanie Phillips laments the debauching of the LSE.

Saturday

The Spectator

Letters | 26 February 2011

Question the sceptics Sir: Let’s set aside the fact that the article by Matt Ridley and Nicholas Lewis, ‘Breaking the Ice’ (19 February) — to which you oddly gave cover prominence — was outstandingly the most boring thing I have come across in The Spectator for over 30 years. What, exactly, is the point of this self-confessed ‘group of amateurs’? I am not a scientist, but I was for some while responsible for developing Conservative party policy on climate change. Nerdy quibbles about the extent or location of melting ice in Antarctica don’t get us very far.

The Spectator

Barometer | 26 February 2011

University challenge An analysis of university applications has suggested that 30,000 students had committed plagiarism when writing personal statements on their forms. An earlier trawl through applications found: 175 applicants were inspired to apply for medicine by an infirm grandfather 234 had developed an interest in medicine after ‘burning a hole in my pyjamas aged 8’ 370 professed ‘a fascination for the way the human body works’. Source:  UCAS Top guns The government has said it will review arms exports to Bahrain after the suppression of peaceful protests there. Who are the biggest arms exporters and importers? Arms exported in 2009 USA: $10.3bn Russia: $6.8bn Germany: $3.8bn France: $2.8bn UK: $1.6bn Arms imported in 2009 India: $3.

The Spectator

Portrait of the week | 26 February 2011

Home David Cameron, the Prime Minister, visited Egypt, speaking to Mohamed Tantawi, the head of the armed forces supreme council, and to Ahmed Shafiq, the caretaker Prime Minister. Later, in Kuwait, he said that ‘denying people their basic rights does not preserve stability, rather the reverse’. Before leaving Britain, Mr Cameron had written about the government’s plans to allow private and voluntary groups to run almost every kind of public service. Foreign migrants accounted for a net increase of 3.2 million in the United Kingdom population between 1997 and 2010, according to the Office for National Statistics. Michael Gove, the Education Secretary, gave new criteria for adoption to allow white couples to adopt black children.