The Spectator

Monday

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Just in case you missed them… | 25 October 2010

…here are some of the posts made at Spectator.co.uk over the weekend. Fraser Nelson reveals that rising living costs will be far deadlier than the cuts, and introduces George Osborne – the Paul Daniels of the political world. James Forsyth says that the Liberal Democrats have been changed forever by the past week, and thinks that the coalition may live on, even in the event of a Tory majority. Peter Hoskin watches the government go for growth, and ponders an important intervention from Douglas Alexander. David Blackburn notes that David Cameron is using a moral lexicon, and considers the latest WikiLeaks revelations. Martin Bright says that confusion reigns. Susan Hill distils the welfare to work debate.

Saturday

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Letters | 23 October 2010

Dutch tensions Sir: Rod Liddle’s magnificent portrayal of Dutch politics is marred by one error (‘Orange alert’, 16 October). The anti-immigration and anti-Islam leader Geert Wilders is not ‘almost bizarrely Aryan’, as Liddle states. His grandmother was from a Jewish Indonesian family. His blond hair is peroxided. These facts, unlike many about Mr Wilders, are not in dispute. David Jones Amsterdam The philosophy of Stone Sir: I could have a little more respect for Oliver Stone’s views on cutting defence spending in the UK if he had the slightest idea what he was talking about (‘When Stone gets stick’, 16 October).

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Portrait of the week | 23 October 2010

Home The coalition government announced cuts under the Comprehensive Spending Review of £23.1 billion, or 3.3 per cent of total government spending, over four years. The schools budget joined the NHS and international aid in being protected from cuts. This will be paid for by deeper cuts in welfare spending. Spending on infrastructure was revised upwards. The social housing budget will be heavily cut. George Osborne claimed he was cutting non-protected departments by 19 per cent, less than the 20 per cent Labour had planned. The Office for Budget Responsibility has forecast a loss of 490,000 jobs due to the reduction in the public sector by 2014–15, offset by 1.5 million more private-sector jobs over the period.

The Spectator

The point of Osborne’s scalpel

To govern is to choose. For nine years, Gordon Brown delayed choosing between higher taxes or lower spending, which is why the last time he balanced the government’s books was 2001–02. Since then, we have been building up to the spending cuts announced this week. No matter who won the election, there would have been cuts. Labour’s figures suggested they intended to cut departmental budgets by only marginally less than George Osborne has done. There is no great ideological divide between the parties on the total amount of cuts, so let us dispense with any pretence to the contrary. The Chancellor deserves credit on several fronts. He has stuck to the pace of cuts laid out in the Budget, and limited the impact on defence and education.

Friday

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The week that was | 22 October 2010

Here are some of the posts made at Spectator.co.uk over the past week. Fraser Nelson ‘reveals’ that 1.5 million jobs will be created during the cuts, and sets out 10 points about the CSR. James Forsyth says the cuts were not as deep as expected, and terms the MoD ‘not fit for purpose’. Peter Hoskin brings back the meat from the IFS’ briefing, and finds the chart that may cause the coalition trouble. David Blackburn notes that Andrew Mitchell has received an important visitor, and watches Ed Balls fire his first salvo at Theresa May. Martin Bright urges the Cabinet to show its Big Society credentials. Susan Hill bumps into one of her heroes at the Cheltenham Literary Festival.

Thursday

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WEB EXCLUSIVE: The Spectator defence debate

With the strategic defence review hot off the presses, The Spectator asked Allan Mallinson, Robert Fox, Con Coughlin, Adam Holloway MP and Richard Dannatt to discuss if the time has come for the army, navy and air force to be combined into a massive British Marine Corps. For the benefit of CoffeeHousers, here is Lloyd Evans' parade ground review.

Tuesday

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Across the site | 19 October 2010

Just to point CoffeeHousers in the direction of a trio of delights across the site. First up, is Lloyd Evans’ review of a talk by Kevin Spacey that the Spectator hosted last week, which you can read over at the Spectator Arts Blog. And we also have a web exclusive review, by Lloyd again, of a Spectator debate on faith schools, here.     Then there’s our vote for The Greatest Parliamentarian of the Last 25 Years. There are only a few days left to nominate your choice for the award, which you can do so here. The most persuasive nomination that we receive will win its author a pair of tickets to The Spectator’s Parliamentarian Awards dinner on 17 November.

Monday

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CoffeeHousers’ Wall, 18 October – 24 October

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… | 18 October 2010

...here are some posts made on Spectator.co.uk over the weekend: Fraser Nelson wonders what will become of the Home Office in the Spending Review, and highlights the immigration game. James Forsyth sets out what Liam Fox can learn from IDS, and reports that George Osborne is getting behind infrastructure. Peter Hoskin tracks the latest welfare cuts, and watches the universities strike back. David Blackburn speculates as to why the Tories didn't win a majority, and observes the government protect more spending. Martin Bright says that Ed Miliband has had a good week, but warns that there are another 200 to go. Rod Liddle wonders why James Delingpole has gone politically correct. Alex Massie presents some Sunday Morning Country.

Saturday

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Letters | 16 October 2010

Lessons for the GOP? Sir: In Charles Moore’s notes (9 October), he writes that ‘unusually in modern political history… American politics could learn from Britain something to its advantage’. He seems to support his ‘old friend’ David Frum, who says that the Republican party should follow the David Cameron model and detoxify their party brand. I can’t understand why. Cameron Conservatism can hardly be considered an exemplary success. The Tory leader couldn’t even win an election against an immensely unpopular prime minister who had ruined the country. Republicans, on the other hand, for all their unpopularity across the world, look increasingly certain to win back Congress next month in the US mid-term elections.

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Cutting across the Channel

While it may be a little dangerous to speak so soon, a remarkable gulf is growing between the responses of the British and the French public to their governments’ attempts to balance the books. While it may be a little dangerous to speak so soon, a remarkable gulf is growing between the responses of the British and the French public to their governments’ attempts to balance the books. In Britain, there has been a calm reaction to the cuts so far announced, with a clear majority supporting the government’s bungled announcement that it is to restrict child benefit payments. In France, the only austerity measure to speak of is raising the minimum retirement age from 60 to 62 — and it has brought protesters to the streets.

The Spectator

Portrait of the Week – 16 October 2010

Universities in England should be able to charge unlimited fees, according to a report by Lord Browne of Madingley; students would start repaying loans when their earnings reached £21,000. Home Universities in England should be able to charge unlimited fees, according to a report by Lord Browne of Madingley; students would start repaying loans when their earnings reached £21,000. Vince Cable, the Business Secretary, said the coalition was considering a maximum fee of £7,000. Sir Philip Green, asked to investigate Whitehall efficiency by David Cameron, the Prime Minister, found that paper was being bought too dearly. The rate of inflation measured by the Consumer Price Index was unchanged at 3.1 per cent; on the Retail Price Index, it fell a smidgin from 4.7 to 4.

The Spectator

Barometer | 16 October 2010

The deficit fairy A six-year-old girl from Manchester, Niamh Riley, sent David Cameron a pound coin left by the tooth fairy to help pay off the deficit. If all children followed her example, how near would we be? —With 790,000 children born a year, each with 20 milk teeth, this would raise £15.8 million a year. —According to a survey by the Halifax last year, British children receive an average of £6.24 a week, or £324 a year, in pocket money. If all this money was sent to the government it would raise £4.29 billion a year — one twentieth of the £80 billion structural deficit, and equivalent to ten days of current government overspend. The pay-gap gap How much more are men paid than women?

Friday

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The week that was | 15 October 2010

Fraser Nelson highlights the Tories defying a profligate EU. James Forsyth watches Ed Miliband start with a bang, and sifts through the political consequences of the tuition fees decision. Peter Hoskin says that reforming incapacity benefit is crucial, and reports on Philip Green's attempt to bring Arcadia to Whitehall. David Blackburn reports on Alan Johnson's performance at the dispatch box, and summarises the recommnedations of the Browne review. Martin Bright calls for some humility from Labour. Susan Hill draws the line at a book-signing event. Rod Liddle reveals his headline of the month. Alex Massie outlines the culture war behind the Big Society. Melanie Phillips watches decency fight back.

Monday

The Spectator

CoffeeHousers’ Wall, 11 October – 17 October

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 October 2010

… here are some of the posts made at Spectator.co.uk over the weekend. Ed Howker reveals the full tragedy of Britain’s welfare ghettos. Fraser Nelson argues that Ed Miliband’s shadow cabinet is defensive, and highlights Cameron's greatest weakness. James Forsyth discusses the consequences of the child benefit row, and examines Cameron’s motives. Peter Hoskin notes the transformation of kindly Alan Johnson, and says that the coalition shares Vince Cable’s discomfort over university funding. David Blackburn watches Andrew Lansley try to reassure the doubters, and believes that Labour will target Theresa May. And Alex Massie defends Nick Clegg from the Mail on Sunday’s shrill attacks.

Saturday

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Letters | 9 October 2010

Sir: I enjoyed Robert Stewart’s review of the book about James I’s grasp of spin (Books, 2 October), but there is one fact he omits. On pets and people Sir: Baroness Warnock makes a point — frequently made by those who advocate human euthanasia (‘Moral authority’, 2 October) — that ‘we recognise that in animals, when they’re suffering, it’s best to put them out of their misery’. Leaving aside any moral or spiritual issues, a practical, and vital, difference between animals and people is that animals do not have estates to bequeath, legacies to leave, wills to make and the complex paraphernalia of property and revenue.

The Spectator

In it together

It has been a remarkable week for the bright young Tories who worked for John Major in the 1992 election campaign. At the time, David Cameron, Steve Hilton and their friends were young praetorians who, after the Conservatives were returned to office, credited themselves with snatching victory from the jaws of defeat. They nearly did the opposite in May, but there was no sense of disappointment at the Tory party conference in Birmingham. It looked and felt more like a victory parade for the New Establishment. The word Conservative could hardly be seen inside the conference hall, and the chosen motto, ‘Together in the national interest’‚ suggests coalition rather than party. But Mr Cameron and his lieutenants proudly eschew tribal politics.

The Spectator

The wisdom of Pitkin

While we mourn the comic actor Sir Norman Wisdom, who died on Monday aged 95, we should also celebrate the incurable optimism of his most famous character — Norman Pitkin. Remembered principally for his trademark stumbles, flailing limbs, and saying ‘Mr Grimsdale!’, Pitkin, played by Wisdom in numerous films during the 1950s and 1960s, was the ultimate ‘little man’ who wouldn’t give up. Pitkin was never downcast for long, he rose to the occasion — any occasion — and battled the odds. Cloth-capped, and wearing a jacket that was two sizes too small, Pitkin, or ‘the Gump’ as his character was affectionately known, was a symbol of dogged resistance to conformity and a champion of individuality.