The Spectator

Tuesday

The Spectator

In this week’s Spectator | 15 December 2009

From our UK edition

The latest issue of The Spectator is released 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 from the latest issue are available for free online to all website users: This Christmas, Paul Johnson remembers the people of Cockermouth. Their town is perhaps his, and Wordsworth’s, favourite little town in Britain. Matthew Parris believes that at the end of the year every columnist, broadcaster and writer should ask what they’ve done to change the world for the better. This year, Matthew Parris is proud that he stopped squishy single-portion milk sachets from squirting people in trains.

Monday

The Spectator

CoffeeHousers’ Wall, 14 December – 20 December

From our UK edition

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… | 14 December 2009

From our UK edition

...here are some of the posts made on Spectator.co.uk over the weekend: Fraser Nelson lambasts the government for playing politics with the public finances, and reports on some mixed poll results for the Tories. James Forsyth spots the signs that a fourth term Labour government would be even more fiscally irresponsible, and Labour fell between two stools with the PBR. Peter Hoskin wonders whether Mandelson has given up on Brown, and looks at the government's waning support for ID cards. Rod Liddle speculates whether the Russians were behind the Climategate hacking. Melanie Phillips reveals why the Climategate emails are lethal. And Faith Based wonders what Rowan Williams is whinging about.

Saturday

The Spectator

Letters | 12 December 2009

From our UK edition

Balls to Gilligan Sir: As Andrew Gilligan well knows, I abhor the anti-semitic and anti-democratic views ascribed to Hizb ut Tahrir and I take any accusations of extremist views being taught in schools very seriously (‘Minister for Hizb ut Tahrir’, 5 December). That is why when allegations about links between Hizb ut Tahrir and the Islamic Shakhsiyah Foundation were first raised in 2007, I asked Ofsted to investigate both the independent schools run by the foundation. No evidence of anti-semitic or anti-Western values being taught was found — either then or in subsequent investigations. The pamphlet which Mr Gilligan quoted from was written by one of the head teachers six years ago.

The Spectator

Portrait of the Week – 12 December 2009

From our UK edition

Mr Alistair Darling, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, in his pre-Budget statement, made hostile gestures at bonus-earning bankers to distract attention from the borrowings of £178 billion that Britain will have to make this year. Mr Alistair Darling, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, in his pre-Budget statement, made hostile gestures at bonus-earning bankers to distract attention from the borrowings of £178 billion that Britain will have to make this year. ‘Efficiencies’ promised in some departments still left total borrowing at much the same level. In a pre-emptive strike, Mr Gordon Brown, the Prime Minister, attacked a ‘culture of excess’ among higher earners in the public sector, and promised to cut the salaries of senior civil servants.

The Spectator

Brown’s toxic farewell

From our UK edition

The Pre-Budget Report was, like the Queen’s Speech that preceded it in November, an almost empty sideshow. The Pre-Budget Report was, like the Queen’s Speech that preceded it in November, an almost empty sideshow. The Chancellor’s threatened assault on bankers’ bonuses and Gordon Brown’s sudden diatribe against high public-sector salaries were feeble attempts to distract the public gallery by playing to its prejudices. Additional ‘efficiency savings’ were piffling in scale. All these gestures combined to emphasise the bare truth: that there is nothing for this dysfunctional government to do in its dying months aside from complete the ‘scorched earth’ policy by vandalising the public finances.

Friday

The Spectator

The week that was | 11 December 2009

From our UK edition

Here are some posts made on Spectator.co.uk over the past week: Fraser Nelson says we shouldn't worry about the tax on jobs, and reveals the hidden cuts in the Pre-Budget Report. James Forsyth wonders whether Labour has u-turned on defence spending, and says the Tories should attack the national insurance increase. Peter Hoskin gives his verdict on the Pre-Budget Report, and watches the government's economic narrative unravel. David Blackburn notes a significant endorsement for Osborne and Hammond, and wonders how long it will be until the plug is pulled. Martin Bright gives his take on the PBR. Susan Hill reflects on readers' abiding fascination with authors. Rod Liddle apologies. Sorta. Alex Massie asks for another PBR.

The Spectator

Apologies | 11 December 2009

From our UK edition

We've been experiencing a few technical difficulties on Spectator.co.uk this morning, which mean some of you may not have been able to access the site We're hoping that things will be fully fixed shortly. But, in the meantime, blogging may be a little sporadic.

Thursday

The Spectator

In this week’s Spectator | 10 December 2009

From our UK edition

The latest issue of The Spectator is released 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 from the latest issue are available for free online to all website users: James Forsyth argues that David Cameron could learn a lot from Boris.   The Spectator condemns Gordon Brown's toxic legacy. Allister Heath believes that Alistair Darling's budget was bad; but George Osborne's complicity was worse. Rod Liddle wants everyone to calm down and understand what the internet is about. And Brendan O'Neil thinks that the Tiger hunt should be called off.

Wednesday

The Spectator

Just in case you missed them… | 9 December 2009

From our UK edition

It's been a busy day on Coffee House.  Here's a selection of our PBR coverage, in case you missed them the first time around: Fraser Nelson dissects Alistair Darling's growth forecasts, and reveals the spending cuts hidden in the PBR. James Forsyth wonders whether Labour have u-turned on defence spending, and says the Tories should attack the national insurance increase. Peter Hoskin highlights one thing to remember today, and says the PBR was bad for the country and bad for Labour. Mark Bathgate asks: who much more will Darling need to borrow? Neil O'Brien unveils a whole batch of Brownies. Andrew Haldenby reveals what to do if you can't tax or borrow your way out of trouble.

Monday

The Spectator

CoffeeHousers’ Wall 7 December – 13 December

From our UK edition

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… | 7 December 2009

From our UK edition

…here are some of the posts made at Spectator.co.uk Fraser Nelson relates what happened when he tried to debate climate change with an expert, and says that Brown is ready to strike. James Forsyth argues that the Tories musn’t allow Labour to define their tax policy, and finds a quote from the NUT that epitomises everything that is wrong with the British educational establishment. David Blackburn argues that tax cuts will stimulate growth, and thinks that Alistair Darling has made the correct decision but a political blunder on IHT. Mark Bathgate says that all Gordon Brown has saved is the bonus pool. Daniel Korski sends a dispatch from Copenhagen. Susan Hill condemns the iniquitous 11-plus exam. Rod Liddle dissects what he considers magnificent hypocrisy.

Saturday

The Spectator

Letters | 5 December 2009

From our UK edition

Shooting, moi? Sir: We act for Cherie Blair. We are instructed with regard to an article... The Spectator’s Notes by Charles Moore (28 November). It alleged that our client attended a shooting party at Lord Rothschild’s house in Buckinghamshire with ‘Saif Al-Islam Gaddafi, son of the Libyan dictator, and the man who escorted the Lockerbie bomber, Al Megrahi, home to a hero’s welcome in Libya in August.

The Spectator

Portrait of the week | 5 December 2009

From our UK edition

Mr Gordon Brown, the Prime Minister, announced that Britain would send an extra 500 troops to Afghanistan, bringing its strength there to 10,000. Earlier he had criticised Pakistan for not making ‘more progress in taking out’ the leader of al-Qa’eda: ‘We have got to ask ourselves why, eight years after September 11, nobody has been able to spot or detain or get close to Osama bin Laden.’ The High Court ruled that two men in prison accused of being al-Qa’eda terrorists, who cannot be named, have the right to hear the secret evidence against them or be released. Lady Warsi, the opposition spokesman on community cohesion, was pelted with eggs by Muslim protesters when she visited Luton.

The Spectator

Battle for the City

From our UK edition

For years, the French have resented the success of the City of London. It has become the Rome of the globalised world, where the best financiers flock to do business, make money and pay tax. When Britain wisely stayed out of the eurozone, the City consolidated its lead as Europe’s only world-league financial centre. The best French financiers climbed aboard the Eurostar and headed north. Today, when you enter the quant trading division of firms like Barclays Capital, you hear the finest minds of the école Polytechnique speaking French to each other. It is fashionable, nowadays, to declare this to have been a fraud, the City little more than a casino and the wealth it created illusory. But however much Nicolas Sarkozy might like this to be true, he knows it is false.

The Spectator

Salmond may save Labour

From our UK edition

Pity Alex Salmond and his separatist supporters. The publication of their manifesto for Scottish independence this week is no threat to the Union, but a requiem for a dream now vanquished. The devolution settlement gave them the rope, and now they’ve managed to hang themselves with it. During Mr Salmond’s tenure as First Minister, Scotland’s economic situation has become progressively worse. If Gordon Brown did not send home pocket money — a subsidy of £11 billion each year — Scotland would have a budget deficit that would put even Britain’s to shame. So now Mr Salmond is under pressure: this week he had to demote one of his ministers to avert defeat in a no-confidence vote and he is being routed in Glasgow’s by-elections.

Friday

The Spectator

The week that was | 4 December 2009

From our UK edition

Here are some of the posts made at Spectator.co.uk over the past week. Fraser Nelson calls for a debate, a proper debate, about climate change, and asks who cares about the playing fields of Eton. James Forsyth ponders some testing times for the Tories, and reckons there might be life in the class war yet. Peter Hoskin wonders if Brown did himself more harm than good at PMQs, and believes that doubts still remain over Afghanistan. David Blackburn is unimpressed by the Lib Dem’s Mansion Tax, and doubts if David Cameron should reward marriage fiscally. Mark Bathgate exposes Labour’s City free for all. Lloyd Evans watches the latest round of Etonians versus Bolsheviks. Daniel Korski welcomes you to Obamastan. Martin Bright reports on our pernicious libel laws.

Thursday

The Spectator

In this week’s Spectator | 3 December 2009

From our UK edition

The latest issue of the Spectator is released 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 now. Six articles from the latest issue are available for free online to all website users: As the world gears up for two weeks of hob-nobbing in Copenhagen, it is plain that climate change has mutated from a debate into a catechism. With so much at stake, says Fraser Nelson, can we afford to dispense with rational argument? The Schools Secretary, Ed Balls, continues to deny that Islamist extremism is being taught in state-funded schools. Here, Andrew Gilligan shows him the indisputable evidence.

Monday

The Spectator

CoffeeHousers’ Wall 30 November – 6 December

From our UK edition

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… | 30 November 2009

From our UK edition

…here are some of the posts made at Spectator.co.uk over the weekend Fraser Nelson considers the Iraq inquiry we should be having. James Forsyth argues that the Tories must develop a three-pronged strategy in light of recent polls, and describes Zac Goldsmith’s tax status as a major embarrassment for the Tories. Peter Hoskin ponders PBR 2009 compared with PBR 2008, and thinks Lord Pearson’s first intervention may be an own goal. David Blackburn argues that the political case for tackling climate change is weakening, and is convinced that the appointment of Michel Barnier as EU regulation supremo endangers the City’s recovery. Susan Hill recounts a tragic story and asks how it may not be repeated.