The Spectator

Tuesday

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Just in case you missed them… | 4 May 2010

…here are some of the posts made at Spectator.co.uk over the weekend. Over at Spectator Live, Gaby Hinsliff argues that sometimes are at their best in a crisis. Fraser Nelson says that Cameron will walk the line, and explains why the Guardian should have backed the Tories. James Forsyth highlights the ‘what if’ that must haunt Labour, and considers Nick Clegg’s next test. Peter Hoskin reports that the Brownites still think they can win, and is reminded of the grim Islamist threat. David Blackburn is wary of the Tories plans to co-operate with Unionists in Ulster. Daniel Korski says that Gordon Brown knows he’s finished. Martin Bright notes some old comrades returning to the Labour fold.

Monday

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CoffeeHousers’ Wall, 3 May – 9 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.

Saturday

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Letters | 1 May 2010

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.

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Portrait of the week | 1 May 2010

On the eve of the third television debate by the leaders of Britain’s three main parties, on the subject of the economy, the Institute for Fiscal Studies published a report on the size of the spending cuts and tax rises needed and criticised the parties for failing to set out how they would achieve them. On the eve of the third television debate by the leaders of Britain’s three main parties, on the subject of the economy, the Institute for Fiscal Studies published a report on the size of the spending cuts and tax rises needed and criticised the parties for failing to set out how they would achieve them. All the talk was of a hung parliament. The party leaders’ second debate drew a live audience of 4.

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Gordon the gaffer

It was always dangerous to let Gordon Brown near real voters. His election campaign has been constructed so that he meets as few as possible. Labour aides have been asked to pose as audiences. The Prime Minister has always been a backroom man: he is at his best with spreadsheets and opinions. He is easily irritated. Worse, he thinks that anyone who disagrees with him is either confused or malign. Now we know that he also regards his critics as ‘bigoted’. The accidental recording of his comments after meeting Gillian Duffy in Rochdale is far more damaging than John Major referring to the Eurosceptic ‘bastards’. Cameras recorded the Prime Minister saying ‘good to see you’ as he left the woman, and trying on his rictus grin as he climbed into the car.

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No compromise

Next week’s election may well bring Conservatism to a crossroads. Next week’s election may well bring Conservatism to a crossroads. If David Cameron fails to secure a majority, he will have a choice: should he seek to enter a deal with the Liberal Democrats as the flailing Ted Heath tried (and failed) to do in February 1974? If so, would he agree to voting reform which could change the nature of our politics forever? Or would he carry on in a minority government until it is necessary to call the inevitable second election? The latter is the riskier path. It is also the only acceptable one. Much rot has been spoken about hung parliaments — or, as the BBC has started to call them, ‘balanced’ parliaments. History shows they do not work in Westminster.

Friday

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The week that was | 30 April 2010

It has been a busy week at Spectator Live, where Gaby Hinsliff has argued that Gordon Brown looks too knackered to carry on and Jo-Anne Nadler interviews William Hague, who wants to be Foreign Secretary. Here is what Spectator.co.uk made of the final televised debate; Fraser Nelson says that Cameron shone, Clegg wobbled and Brown sank. James Forsyth believes Cameron delivered the required performance. Peter Hoskin argues that the sunshine wins it for Cameron. David Blackburn watches Labour’s campaign implode. And Alex Massie proclaims a victory for Cameron, at last. And here is a selection of other posts made at Spectator.co.uk over the past week: Fraser Nelson asks Gordon Brown ten questions.

Thursday

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WEB EXCLUSIVE: William Hague interview

Over at Spectator Live, our panellist Gaby Hinsliff asks who has the three qualities – momentum, hope and stamina - needed to close the deal in the last week of campaigning. After his exhausted blunder yesterday, Gordon Brown looks finished.   Also at Spectator Live, you can read an exclusive interview with William Hague, written by Hague’s biographer Jo-Anne Nadler. Hague has discovered a life outside politics, but if the Tories win Hague will serve as Foreign Secretary. It is the only job he wants.

Monday

The Spectator

CoffeeHousers’ Wall, 26 April – 2 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… | 26 April 2010

…here are some of the posts made at Spectator.co.uk over the weekend. Fraser Nelson explains why Cameron is right about the regions, and argues that the Tories must work harder to sell the Gove schools plans. James Forsyth watches Cameron make the Big Society more accessible, and catches Cable flip-flopping on yet another issue. Peter Hoskin wonders who the Lib Dems will work with, and observes the Tories growing used to the idea of a hung parliament. David Blackburn considers Labour’s Catch 22. Daniel Korski reports on some American scepticism of the Tories’ Euroscepticism. Martin Bright urges Gordon Brown to manage himself with dignity. Rod Liddle questions Peter Mandelson’s strategic nous.

Saturday

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Letters | 24 April 2010

Delingpole’s victims Sir: In his most recent column (You know it makes sense, 17 April), James Delingpole suggests that ‘even as the wall is pushed on top of’ me by anti-gay Islamists, I ‘will be squealing with [my] last breath that it’s all the fault of Western imperialism and white heterosexist Islamophobia.’ I found this slightly odd, since I am so critical of Islamic fundamentalists that I have received a substantial number of death threats from them.

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Portrait of the week | 24 April 2010

Some 150,000 British travellers were stranded when the National Air Traffic Services stopped all flights from 15 April because of a cloud of fine volcanic ash drifting from the Eyjafjallajökull volcano in Iceland. Some 150,000 British travellers were stranded when the National Air Traffic Services stopped all flights from 15 April because of a cloud of fine volcanic ash drifting from the Eyjafjallajökull volcano in Iceland. It was feared that the glassy particles would melt in jet engines, causing them to fail. The name of the volcano was very seldom heard on British media because it was hard to pronounce. No aeroplanes flew over Europe from the Pyrenees to the Arctic. The quietness was widely noted.

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Blue sky thinking

The volcanic ash cloud over Britain, which for days kept nearly all aircraft grounded, was much more than an inconvenience. For many, it was a catastrophe. Businesses that rely on air-travel have been paralysed, weddings ruined, and tens of thousands of passengers stranded abroad or stuck at home. Yet for all the chaos — which appeared to be ending after air-space was officially ‘re-opened’ on Tuesday night – Eyjafjallajökull has had its upsides. As our enthusiastic poet laureate, Carol Ann Duffy, pointed out, the skies looked clear and calm, ‘as clean as white slate’, uncluttered by helicopters and 747s.

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Battle for England

As we celebrate St George’s Day, it is worth asking just what England has done to deserve being landed in such a mess. She certainly did not vote for it. In the last election, the Conservatives won the most English votes. And no one, aside from 24,500 Fifers, has ever crossed a box beside Gordon Brown’s name. Yet the Labour Prime Minister has had a free rein to trample all over England’s economy. The voting system, many conclude, is a joke. So why not throw the mother of all spanners into the works — and vote Lib Dem? The English have a long record of defying authority that they do not respect. So many people declared themselves ‘Jedis’ in the last official census that it is now on record as the nation’s fourth largest religion.

Friday

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The week that was | 23 April 2010

It’s been a busy week at Spectator Live, where Gaby Hinsliff argues that what’s wrong the TV debates is the visual aspect, and Rory Sutherland thinks that the Lib Dem surge may give the Tories a lasting advantage in Middle England. There is also a selection of videos, polls and additional articles for your delectation. Here is what Spectator.co.uk made of the second televised debate: Fraser Nelson says Cameron has pulled the Tories out of the fire. James Forsyth says an improved Cameron hasn’t burst the Lib Dem bubble. Peter Hoskin calls it Cameron’s evening. David Blackburn thinks the camera doesn’t like David Cameron. And Susan Hill bets that David Cameron won’t be Prime Minister.

Tuesday

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The killer poster

So, as Daniel Korski wrote earlier, a vote for Nick Clegg keeps Labour in office - surely fertile territory for a killer poster? Here's a selection of CoffeeHousers'  'Vote Nick Get Gordon' posters. Remember him?

Monday

The Spectator

CoffeeHousers’ Wall, 19 April – 25 April

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

It’s been a busy weekend at Spectator Live. We have the complete video footage of the leaders’ debate and you can read Will Straw analysis on the event here. Also, we’re conducting a readers’ poll: do you think that the Lib Dems will finish second? And here are some articles from the rest of the site: Fraser Nelson says that Cameron should tell us about his policy agenda, and explains how Charlie Whelan & Co exploit Britain’s libel laws. James Forsyth sees Gordon Brown’s mindset on full display, and argues that David Cameron needs to go big on the Big Society. Peter Hoskin responds to the Lib Dem surge, and watches Mandelson get the boot in early.

Saturday

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Letters | 17 April 2010

Tea parties began here Sir: Daniel McCarthy is right that the tea party is ‘a symbol of colonial rebellion’ (‘The trouble with tea parties’, 10 April). But where does he suppose the rebels drew their inspiration from? The American patriots of 1773 didn’t see themselves as revolutionaries, but as conservatives. In their minds, all they were asking for was what they had always assumed to be their birthright as freeborn Englishmen. Part of that birthright was liberty from unjust, arbitrary or punitive taxation. The proposition that taxes ought not to be levied except by elected representatives would have been every bit as popular in contemporary Great Britain as in the thirteen colonies.

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Portrait of the week | 17 April 2010

Mr Gordon Brown, the Prime Minister, sent the Foreign Secretary to a nuclear security summit in Washington, so that he could launch the Labour party manifesto in an empty hospital in Birmingham. It promised to halve the annual deficit by 2014, through growth, taxes and cuts, but not to raise rates of income tax and not to extend VAT to food, children’s clothes, books, newspapers and public transport fares. Underperforming schools might be taken over by more successful ones; failing police forces might be taken over by more successful ones. There would be a referendum before 2011 on the alternative vote method of electing MPs. Mr David Cameron launched the Conservative manifesto at Battersea power station, promising: ‘People power, not state power.