The Spectator

Part of the pleasure of the WikiLeaks revelations is that they confirm the view now universally reviled as ‘neocon’. Part of the pleasure of the WikiLeaks revelations is that they confirm the view now universally reviled as ‘neocon’. It emerges that whereas the public pronouncements of the Arab world all concentrate on Israel as the villain of everything, what really worries the Arabs is Iran. The Arab regimes share Israel’s view that Iran is an ‘existential threat’. They also turn instinctively to America to sort out the problem. While President Obama has tried unsuccessfully to pursue a doveish policy, real, live Muslims want Ahmedinejad’s nuclear ambitions stopped, if necessary by violence.

Here are some of the posts made on Spectator.co.uk over the past week: Fraser Nelson argues that David Cameron can be proud of his World Cup bid, and reveals Sweden's recession remedy. James Forsyth says that England's defeated World Cup bid was a national embarrassment, and says that the Lib Dems need to get their act together over tuition fees. Peter Hoskin digs out a leaked embassy memo about Margaret Thatcher, and observes a grim turning point for Ed Miliband. David Blackburn outlines what the statist left thinks of the liberal right, and watches the government take the fight to students. Daniel Korski highlights the Guardians Wiki-spin. Martin Bright reveals the ultimate Jewish conspiracy theory.

If William Beveridge were commissioned to write another report into Britain’s social ills, he would find that two of his ‘giant evils’ — ignorance and idleness — still stalk and shame Britain. If William Beveridge were commissioned to write another report into Britain’s social ills, he would find that two of his ‘giant evils’ — ignorance and idleness — still stalk and shame Britain. At the time, one might have argued that this was because schools lacked enough money or because the economy was a ruin. But today, when schools enjoy record funding and immigrants occupy one in seven jobs, only one conclusion can be drawn: that the welfare state has been incubating the very evils it was designed to eradicate.

Here are some of the posts made at Spectator.co.uk over the past week The Spectator welcomes Nick Cohen as its latest guest blogger. The Spectator Book Blog congratulates 2 old friends of the magazine on their appointment to the Booker Prize judging panel. Fraser Nelson praises Michael Gove’s education white paper, and analyses the political precedents of Howard Flight’s loose talk. James Forsyth explains why Spain matters. David Blackburn watches the coalition forge another impressive compromise, and thinks that Ed Miliband must begin to define himself and his party. Mark Littlewood reports on the centre right’s changing conception of society and why Jon Cruddas is exercised by it. Martin Bright is asking questions about Bangladeshi war criminals.

The Spectator is delighted to welcome Nick Cohen as our new guest blogger. You can read Nick’s first post here and his blog can be found at new.spectator.co.uk/nickcohen. He needs no introduction, but Cohen is a columnist of both the Observer and Standpoint magazine. He has also written numerous books, including What’s Left?, which was shortlisted for the Orwell Prize in 2008. It's a pleasure to have him on board.

Trouble with stags In addition to next year’s royal wedding, Prince William will have to organise the royal stag party. William got into trouble in 2008 for flying a Chinook helicopter from Lincolnshire to his cousin Peter Phillips’s stag party on the Isle of Wight — at a cost of £8,716 to the public purse. In 1981 Prince Charles announced that he would hold a fireworks party in Hyde Park in lieu of a stag do — but he slipped off to meet friends at White’s. Prince Andrew was less successful at setting a decoy for his stag party in 1986: the press tracked him down, thwarting a plan by Sarah Ferguson and Princess Diana to crash the party dressed as policewomen.

Here are some of the posts made at Spectator.co.uk over the past week. Fraser Nelson wonders if Cameron was being more than wryly ironic when ribbing Ian Gilmour. James Forsyth notes that Tuesday was a very good day to bury bad news, and says that Tim Farron is one to watch and not just for his rapping. Peter Hoskin notes that Tuesday was a day on which to bury good news, and argues that Ireland’s nightmare has been Europe’s problem. Martin Bright charts the chilling effect of the Woolas case. Rod Liddle has braced himself for months of vapid, pointless shit. Alex Massie aids the defence of the euro. And Melanie Phillips deplores the creep of ‘human rights’ on common sense and justice.