The Spectator

What matters most Sir: In last week’s Spectator there was an interesting section where writers and thinkers were invited to advise the new Prime Minister what his administration should urgently address (‘What the new government must do first’, 8 May). Defence was not included but surely with a war in Afghanistan, an uncertain world and a defence budget under extreme pressure, it should be. A foreign policy-led strategic defence review is the first priority, and a view taken as to what sort of country we want to be. We are clearly not a superpower but we have a seat on the Security Council and are a leading member of Nato and other international organisations and have an important position in Europe. Do we want to be an onlooker like some European countries?

Unreasonable rationality Sir: I fully agree with the blunt but accurate observations of Melanie Phillips in her piece ‘Welcome to the Age of Irrationality’ (1 May). It is a good measure of the Western mind’s fall into murky confusion, and witless denial, that words like ‘rational’ and ‘secular’ have become prone to a transformation of their authentic meaning. But two points made by Phillips trouble me. Is it really reasonable to saddle ‘the left’ with ‘distortions, fabrications and bullying’ in the same breath as she lauds ‘the right’ for their ‘attempt to uphold truth, reality and liberty’?

Here is what Spectator.co.uk made of the election Peter Hoskin wrote a comprehensive live-blog of the night’s events. Fraser Nelson hears rumours of coming Tory war. James Forsyth argues that the Tories were right to put the ball in Clegg’s court. Peter Hoskin records three statesmanlike performances and the odd sales pitch from Nick Clegg, Gordon Brown and David Cameron. David Blackburn urges the Tories to remain absolutely united behind Cameron’s deal for power. Martin Bright comments on a failure to manage expectations. Alex Massie says that Cameron should talk to Alex Salmond. Melanie Phillips looks into the murk. And Cappuccino Culture calls for a retirement.

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.

Making it work Sir: Your leading article (24 April) tells us that: ‘A hung parliament would be a disaster. Coalitions do not work in Westminster’s adversarial system.’ Can’t you see that the adversarial system, with its focus on doing down the opposition rather than on working collegially to decide what might be best for the nation, is exactly what we are sick of? If our voting preferences result in a coalition then we’ll expect our elected representatives to damn well make it work. If they let it become a disaster we may choose not to vote for any of them ever again.