The Spectator

Saturday

The Spectator

Letters | 13 February 2010

Scientists must engage more Sir: Arguments over nuclear energy, stolen emails from the University of East Anglia and allegations about flawed climate data have indeed split the green movement (‘The global warming guerrillas’, 6 February). But sceptics mustn’t get too excited. The revelations alter nothing. The centuries-old climate science behind the greenhouse effect of gases, such as carbon dioxide, is indisput-able. The world is still warming and humanity is still mostly to blame. ‘Climategate’ should not be seen as a lapse in climate science but a failure to implement the rigorous procedures that ensure only substantiated evidence is published.

The Spectator

Portrait of the week | 13 February 2010

Three Labour MPs, Mr Elliot Morley, Mr David Chaytor and Mr Jim Devine, and a Conservative peer, Lord Hanningfield, were charged with false accounting under section 17 of the Theft Act 1968 with regard to claims for parliamentary expenses. Lawyers for the MPs let it be known that they might claim immunity from prosecution under parliamentary privilege guaranteed by the Bill of Rights 1689. Mr David Cameron said that he had asked Sir George Young, the shadow leader of the House, to draft a Parliamentary Privilege Bill to clarify matters. Lord Hanningfield was quickly suspended from the parliamentary Conservative party and stood down as leader of Essex County Council. Three days later the MPs were suspended from the parliamentary Labour party.

The Spectator

Beyond bathplugs

First parliament, now the BBC. Steadily, the public is seeing details of the kind of lifestyles that have been funded by the taxpayer for all these years. To the tawdry parliamentarians’ list — duck houses, porn films, Kit Kat bars — we can now add the £638 taxi bills for BBC executives and the £3 which cash machines charge them to take out money. As the Freedom of Information requests are steadily lodged with the legion of quangos, we can expect another tranche of horrors — and this is before anyone moves on to the local authorities. As David Cameron says, sunlight is the best disinfectant. The more we see, the more taxpayer anger is focused.

The Spectator

Character building

This magazine salutes Robert Fidler, the Surrey farmer who built a family castle in secret and is now fighting a court order that it should be demolished. Mr Fidler had hoped, ingeniously, to foil local authorities by concealing his building behind a 40-foot enclosure of hay bales. He believed that, thanks to a legal loophole, if a house attracted no planning objection for four years after completion, it acquired immunity from demolition. Reigate and Banstead Borough Council thought otherwise, though, and a judge ruled that the removal of the bales in 2006 constituted part of the building work, so the council was right to demand its destruction. Undeterred, Mr Fidler says he will appeal his case, if necessary, in the European Court of Human Rights.

Friday

The Spectator

The week that was | 12 February 2010

Here are some of the posts made at Spectator.co.uk over the past week. Fraser Nelson ponders the re-birth of history. James Forsyth offers a note of caution over Cameron’s welcome attack on lobbyists, and says that the Tories’ death ads are the sort of hardball politics the Tories should play. Peter Hoskin condemns the Tories’ attack poster as Brownite politics at its worst, and sees the Cameroons fleshing out the agenda that may define them. David Blackburn argues that the Tories’ dirty tactics are distasteful but effective, and is uneasy about Cameron’s personal attack on Brown. Lloyd Evans sketches a perky PMQs. Daniel Korski writes an obituary for Charlie Wilson. Susan Hill is clear that bullying is bullying – whoever does it.

Thursday

The Spectator

In this week’s Spectator | 11 February 2010

The latest issue of the Spectator is published today. If you are a subscriber you can view it here. If you have not subscribed, but would like to view this week’s content, you can subscribe online here, or purchase a single issue here. A selection of articles has been made available, free, for all website users: Francis Fukuyama asks if the age of democracy is over. James Forsyth believes that the war over Joanne Cash tells us a lot about Cameron's Conservatives. Matthew Parris says that the Australian bush breaks your heart. Rod Liddle is adamant that we are all victims of institutional anti-racism. And Victoria Lane interviews Ruth Rendell.

Monday

The Spectator

CoffeeHousers’ Wall, 8 February – 14 February

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… | 8 February 2010

…here are some of the posts made at Spectator.co.uk over the weekend. Fraser Nelson thinks that massive cuts in public spending are inevitable, and is pleased that rationalism has entered the climate change debate. James Forsyth sees Sir George Young favouring elected committee chairmen, and believes that the tradecraft in Brown’s Morgan interview is bizarre. David Blackburn celebrates another very good Friday, and remains unimpressed with Alistair Campbell’s answers to questions concerning Iraq. Martin Bright suffered a cynical jaw drop upon opening the Sunday Times. Susan Hill has more news from the un-level playing field. Alex Massie on Jim Devine. And Cappuccino Culture urges you to watch Invictus under the influence.

Saturday

The Spectator

Letters | 6 February 2010

When war is a crime Sir: Andrew Gilligan’s trenchant indictment of Blair (‘How can we punish Blair?’, 30 January) includes the mitigating claim that: ‘For all the cries that he is a “war criminal”, the Nuremberg Principles make clear that war crimes relate largely to atrocities committed in the course of combat or aggression. The act of war is not itself a war crime.’ This is incorrect. Count One of the Indictment at Nuremberg, read out on 20 November 1945, includes these words: ‘The common plan or conspiracy embraced the commission of Crimes against Peace in that the defendants planned, prepared, initiated and waged wars of aggression, which were also wars in violation of international treaties, agreements or assurances.

The Spectator

Portrait of the week | 6 February 2010

Mr Gordon Brown, the Prime Minister, said MPs would vote next week on whether a referendum should be held to allow an alternative-vote system in general elections after the next one. The government also came up with new ideas for persecuting smokers, such as driving them from shelter in doorways. Members of the Scottish Parliament passed their own law to make shopkeepers hide cigarettes. During a meeting in Rome with the Catholic bishops of England and Wales, the Pope implicitly criticised the Equality Bill promoted by Miss Harriet Harman. ‘Your country is well known for its firm commitment to equality of opportunity,’ he said.

The Spectator

Bad sport

Should John Terry be stripped of his captain’s armband for conducting an extramarital affair with a teammate’s girlfriend, getting her pregnant, and then paying for her to have an abortion? Of course not. Should John Terry be stripped of his captain’s armband for conducting an extramarital affair with a teammate’s girlfriend, getting her pregnant, and then paying for her to have an abortion? Of course not. England expects that sort of behaviour from its football stars: it’s a part of our national sport. Newspapers play the game too.

The Spectator

The false promise of ‘equality’’

The Pope certainly knows how to make an entrance. As he prepares for his visit to Britain, the Holy Father has not sent the usual diplomatic advance party but an Exocet missile aimed at the government — and specifically at Harriet Harman’s Equality Bill. It is a worthy target. The Bill itself is an appalling piece of legislation, but most of all it is based on one of the most pernicious ideas in modern politics: that equality should be pursued for its own sake. It is hard not be outraged by the examples of inequality in Britain: the drug-addled sink estates next door to opulent mansions; the fact that more Eton boys leave school with three As at A-level than do all the boys who qualify for free school meals in the country.

Friday

The Spectator

The week that was… | 5 February 2010

Here are some of the posts made on Spectator.co.uk over the past week: Fraser Nelson explains why winning is not enough for the Tories, and sees nothing to get excited about in George Osborne's "new economic model". James Forsyth reveals how to set up a school, and observes that the Old Lady is becoming more pessimistic. Peter Hoskin thinks that the Tories are muddying their clear, blue water, and identifies the chip on Brown's shoulder. David Blackburn watches Brown meet his Waterloo, and is disappointed that the Tories are speaking with Lord Stern. Daniel Korski wonders whether or not the Iraq War was in the national interest. Martin Bright reveals his history with Charlie Whelan. Susan Hill looks into ME. Rod Liddle argues that Cameron grasps at populism out of desperation.

Thursday

The Spectator

In this week’s issue

The latest issue of the Spectator is published today. If you are a subscriber you can view it here. If you have not subscribed, but would like to view this week’s content, you can subscribe online here, or purchase a single issue here. A selection of articles have been made available, free, for all website users: Matt Ridley salutes the bloggers who changed the climate debate. James Forsyth warns that the Tories cannot continue to fight the election on a vague promise of "change". Rod Liddle asks whether it's racist to want an English-speaking cab driver. Deborah Ross reviews Clint Eastwood's Mandela biopic, Invictus. And Jeremy Clarke relates a mysterious conversation about a horse.

Monday

The Spectator

CoffeeHousers’ Wall, 1 February  – 6 February

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… | 1 February 2010

…here are some of the posts made at Spectator.co.uk over the weekend. Fraser Nelson argues that Blair’s ultimate legacy is that Britain will be shaped by the world, and asks what to do with IDS? James Forsyth says that Andrew Rawnsley’s book will cause Brown no end of trouble, and says that the Tories are making contingency plans for a second election in 2010. David Blackburn thinks that the Tories could do more to sell their economic policies, and watches aghast as Ed Miliband declares war on reason. Martin Bright asks if Tony Blair may be Labour’s next Prime Minister. Susan Hill on her battles with ME. And Alex Massie ponders Blair vs Chilcot vs his critics.

Saturday

The Spectator

Letters | 30 January 2010

For richer, for poorer Sir: Ferdinand Mount’s article (‘David Cameron should honour his marriage vow’, 23 January) is not entirely accurate. After noting that Geoffrey Howe was unable to persuade Margaret Thatcher to agree to the introduction of transferable tax allowances between married couples, he writes: ‘Nigel Lawson after him argued the same, with no better luck.’ In fact, I announced the introduction of transferable allowances in my 1988 Budget, and it was duly implemented in 1990. The full story may be found on pages 881 to 887 of my memoirs, The View from No. 11. Nigel Lawson London SW1 Sir: Well done to Ferdinand Mount and The Spectator for standing up for marriage.

The Spectator

Portrait of the week | 30 January 2010

Britain technically emerged from recession, with economic growth of 0.1 per cent in the last quarter of 2009, according to figures from the Office for National Statistics, although these might be revised in a month’s time. Britain technically emerged from recession, with economic growth of 0.1 per cent in the last quarter of 2009, according to figures from the Office for National Statistics, although these might be revised in a month’s time. The previous six quarters of contraction had been the longest such period since 1955. Gross Domestic Product fell by 4.8 per cent last year. The 100 partners of Goldman Sachs based in Britain are having pay and bonuses for 2009 capped at £1 million each; this will not affect executives of the bank who are not partners.

The Spectator

Lies, and damned lies

Tony Blair’s absence has not made the heart grow any fonder. Tony Blair’s absence has not made the heart grow any fonder. On the not-rare-enough occasions when he returns to our television screens, one feels an instinctive revulsion. Here is the Prime Minister who was as uninterested in economics as he was in the conduct of warfare. He ceded domestic power to an incompetent and reckless Chancellor and he is now accepting £200,000-a-year jobs with the banks with whom his government worked hand-in-glove. No, there is no pleasure in seeing him again. Especially as Britain starts to focus on the mess which he bequeathed.

Friday

The Spectator

The week that was | 29 January 2010

Here are some of the posts made at Spectator.co.uk over the past week Fraser Nelson reveals Blair’s real crime. James Forsyth says that the Tories’ Northern Ireland talks had nothing to do with electoral advantage, and reviews the economy’s anaemic recovery. David Blackburn thinks it will take decades to stimulate social mobility, and says that the Tories need to be clearer about localism. Martin Bright wants to save Wikileaks. Susan Hill is thinking about cuts. Rod Liddle understands that the MCB is moving in the right direction. Alex Massie ponders the same tired old utterances delivered at the State of the Union address. Melanie Phillips analyses British Social Attitudes. And Cappuccino Culture has turned into Cappuccino Amis, sorry.