The Spectator

Saturday

The Spectator

Portrait of the week | 22 May 2010

George Osborne, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, said he would hold an emergency Budget on 22 June. He announced the setting up of an Office for Budget Responsibility under Sir Alan Budd, one of the original members of the Bank of England’s Monetary Policy Committee in 1997. The office would publish its first economic and fiscal forecasts before the Budget. In the meantime the government looked for £6 billion of savings to make this year. Mr David Cameron, the Prime Minister, sought, as an adviser on poverty, Mr Frank Field, the Labour MP asked in 1997 to ‘think the unthinkable’ about welfare reform and sacked as a minister when he did so. MPs reappointed Mr John Bercow as Speaker.

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Germany’s agony

When George Osborne attended his first meeting of European finance ministers on Tuesday, he may well have felt a pang of pity for his Continental colleagues. True, Britain has the worst deficit and the most rampant inflation in Western Europe. True, Mr Osborne may have been outmanoeuvred over the regulation of hedge funds. But the Chancellor has a trump card: the pound sterling. When it tumbles, we can export our way back to growth. When Greece implodes, we can maintain a studied distance. All things considered, it could be worse. We could be Germany. Germany’s dire situation today offers the most eloquent of all arguments against the concept of a single currency.

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The self-preservation society

How quickly Nick Clegg is adapting to government doublespeak. He hailed a radical constitutional reform programme this week and declared that he is ‘taking away the government’s right to throw out parliament’. The reverse, in fact, is true. The coalition government proposes changing the constitution so it takes 55 per cent of MPs — rather than a straight majority — to force a general election, and all in the name of ‘stability’. This is understandable, but wrong. David Cameron is anxious about being at the mercy of the Lib Dems. They may well switch their allegiance to the Labour party when it suits them to call an election.

Friday

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The week that was | 21 May 2010

Here are some of the posts made on Spectator.co.uk over the past week: Fraser Nelson interviews Graham Brady, and argues that a Bill of Rights would be useless anyway. James Forsyth says that it's a shame Jon Cruddas isn't running for the Labour leadership, and gives his take on Cameron's reform of the 1922 Committee. Peter Hoskin says the Labour leadership contest is between tribalism and anti-tribalism, and wonders whether scorched earth politics is a thing of the past. Susan Hill thinks the unthinkable. Alex Massie asks: if Ed Miliband is the answer, what is the question? And Melanie Phillips gives her take on the ruling preventing an Al-Qaeda operative from being deported.

Monday

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CoffeeHousers’ Wall, 17 May – 23 May

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.

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Just in case you missed them… | 17 May 2010

Here are some of the posts made over the weekend on Spectator.co.uk: Fraser Nelson highlights an important lesson for all new MPs, and outlines why Labour are still within striking distance of government. James Forsyth reviews David Cameron's first TV interview as Prime Minister, and observes the Labour candidates moving towards the Cruddas position on immigration. Peter Hoskin watches Ed Balls following Ed Miliband's lead, and highlight's George Osborne's Big Choice. Daniel Korski suggests how the coalition can build on its good start. Rod Liddle is left bemused by BA's response to the ash cloud. And Alex Massie says that the British people have not been betrayed.

Saturday

The Spectator

Letters | 15 May 2010

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?

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Portrait of the week | 15 May 2010

Five days after the general election, Mr David Cameron, the leader of the Conservative party, accepted the Queen’s request to form an administration and kissed hands upon his appointment as Prime Minister, the 12th of her reign, and at 43, the youngest since Lord Liverpool. Five days after the general election, Mr David Cameron, the leader of the Conservative party, accepted the Queen’s request to form an administration and kissed hands upon his appointment as Prime Minister, the 12th of her reign, and at 43, the youngest since Lord Liverpool. In Downing Street he announced a ‘full coalition’ with the Liberal Democrats.

The Spectator

Victory!

This magazine had hoped for a Conservative government. We have what is arguably the next best thing: a government led by David Cameron but supported by some political mercenaries put in the positions where they inflict the least harm — and reform-minded Tories in positions where they can do most good. The strategy is fairly clear: give Lib Dems more Cabinet crowns and chauffeurs than they could have dreamed of. Tie them in for five years, and have them defend Tory policy on the airwaves. And then, crucially, let them share the blame for the Irish-style spending cuts to come. Three appointments make this government, on balance, a victory for Conservatism.

Friday

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The week that was | 14 May 2010

Here are some of the posts made at Spectator.co.uk over the past week. Fraser Nelson offers reasons to hope amid the misplaced optimism, and comments that Brown saved the worst till last. James Forsyth reveals who missed out on Cabinet, and watches the coalition pass the easy bit with flying colours. Peter Hoskin argues that the coalition’s first test will be the emergency budget, and critiques the Tory campaign. David Blackburn urges the Tory right to put up and shut up, and believes that Labour must recognise the scale of its defeat. Daniel Korski wants the reforms to begin. Martin Bright says the Labour party must move on. Susan Hill praises the Department of Education. Rod Liddle reckons this will finish the Liberals.

Monday

The Spectator

CoffeeHousers’ Wall, 10 May – 16 May

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… | 10 May 2010

…here are some of the posts made at Spectator.co.uk Fraser Nelson describes the rolling political drama, and understands that there will be no compromise on Conservative education plans. James Forsyth identifies the two meanings of PR, and examines the Tory coalition. Peter Hoskin asks where are Labour’s manners, and watches Clegg leave the smoke filled rooms to address adoring fans. David Blackburn wonders if Brown will stay or go, and says that Labour must dump Brown. Martin Bright returns to a favoured topic: National Government. Alex Massie argues that Cameron won, full stop.

Saturday

The Spectator

Letters | 8 May 2010

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’?

The Spectator

Portrait of the week | 8 May 2010

The country voted in a general election and local elections. In the run-up to the polls, Mr Gordon Brown had comforted Tiari Sanchez, aged 14, who broke down in tears as she described to a rally of Citizens UK how her family had to eat lentils because their mother earned so little as a cleaner at the Treasury. Mr Brown said hers was an example of the importance of fighting for ‘fairness and dignity for all’. Mr David Cameron, the leader of the Conservative party, wooed Ulster Unionists, then took to campaigning in the middle of the night, visiting firemen and fishermen. Mr Manish Sood, a Labour candidate, told his local paper: ‘I believe Gordon Brown has been the worst prime minister we have had in this country.

The Spectator

Greek lesson

The scenes in Athens, with thousands of protesters attempting to storm the Greek parliament, should send a chill down the spines of the British government this weekend. It is Britain, not Greece, that has the worst deficit in Europe. The story of the next four years will be one of brutal cuts. As the Greeks found, the day of fiscal reckoning can be delayed — but not avoided forever. An administration can buy time by cooking the books, talking about debt as if the money arrived down a moonbeam. But soon, payback time arrives. Now that the election is over, Britain’s payback time will start, and the anger among the electorate will be all the harsher because the main political parties were so dishonest about the scale of the pain to come.

The Spectator

Gordon’s ghost

Gordon Brown’s physical presence in 10 Downing Street, while irksome, was not really the problem. Gordon Brown’s physical presence in 10 Downing Street, while irksome, was not really the problem. As Prime Minister, he struggled to achieve anything positive: his skills lay mainly in destroying rivals and terrorising Conservatives. The power he exerted derived from his ability to programme the government machine, and advance his agenda: five-year plans, faith in bureaucracy and the idea that money was the solution to every given problem. It is these ideas, not the man himself, which David Cameron must vanquish. In many respects, Mr Brown can be regarded as an astonishingly successful politician.

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What the new government must do first

After an exhausting election, the incoming administration is expected to introduce reforms immediately. But which ones are most urgent? The Spectator asked some of its favourite writers and thinkers to advise the new Prime Minister Stabilise the economy The new government now has to move with utmost swiftness to stabilise British public finances, which Gordon Brown has left in a truly abysmal condition. We are in the middle of the worst debt explosion in the Western world, according to the Bank for International Settlements, and nothing discussed during the election campaign would remotely suffice to bring the situation under control.

Friday

The Spectator

Election round up

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.

Tuesday