The Spectator

Friday

The Spectator

The week that was | 21 August 2009

There are less than three weeks to go until the Spectator Inaugural Conference, on 15th September 2009 at Church House, Westminster. Click here to book tickets. And, just in case you missed them, here are some of the posts made at Spectator.co.uk this week. Fraser Nelson laments what was a bleak day for Scottish justice, and responds to the opponents of Swedish schools. Peter Hoskin argues that Sir Patrick Cormack’s proposal makes the case for greater public involvement in politics, and says that the Gordon Brown is the loser from the Kevan Jones storm. David Blackburn believes corruption, not force, is the midwife of change in Afghanistan, and wonders who on earth writes Andy Burnham's scripts.

Thursday

Wednesday

Monday

The Spectator

CoffeeHousers’ Wall 17 August – 23 August

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… | 17 August 2009

...here are some of the posts made on Spectator.co.uk over the weekend: Fraser Nelson sets out why we need a proper debate about healthcare. James Forsyth reveals some cartoon cowardice, and says that the Tories must cut out the unforced errors. Peter Hoskin wonders whether George Osborne has downgraded the Tories' health spending commitment, and watches Peter Mandelson continue his anti-Osborne operations. David Blackburn highlights one way to slim down the quangocracy. Martin Bright makes stands up for Jim Fitzpatrick. And Alex Massie laments the England selectors' timid choices for the final Ashes test.

Saturday

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Farewell Freddie

Not since Ian Botham has a cricketer so captured the public imagination as Andrew Flintoff has these past few years. Flintoff’s appeal comes from the fact that he brings the game of the village green to the Test match arena. He plays the sport as all those of us who have put on whites would like to. He bats with uncomplicated power, bowls with pace and turns matches through the force of his personality. He has played as hard off the field as he has on it. But there is something very English about his excess: more booze than bling. Few other sportsmen could have charmed the nation by turning up to Downing Street visibly drunk as he did after England won the Ashes in 2005. If truth be told, Flintoff is not a great player.

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Respectful uncertainty

The Spectator on the plight of Britain’s vulnerable children Families are the raw materials from which society is constructed. They constitute the foundations of our civilisation. And it follows that there are few more unnatural actions that the state can undertake than to invade the relationship between parent and child or even to sever it. And while there are occasions when it must interfere, the state has a profound moral duty to ensure that its intervention is both necessary and constructive.

The Spectator

Letters | 15 August 2009

Primary colours Sir: As a former chairman of a Conservative association, I read with interest your suggestion that the open primary held by the Tories in Totnes was a success (Leading article, 8 August). The association I chaired was constantly under pressure to increase membership. When we attempted to do so, prospective members quite reasonably asked what they would receive for their £25 per annum. In all honesty, the answer was not very much. The trump card was, however, that members have a chance to have a direct say — a vote — in the selection of local and parliamentary candidates and also to vote for a leader of the party. It seems that now even this small benefit is under threat.

Friday

The Spectator

The week that was | 14 August 2009

...here are some of the posts made on Spectator.co.uk this week. Fraser Nelson says that Lord Mandelson’s attempt to incite class war avoids the real problems confronting education, and laments the fate of 'Brown’s children'. James Forsyth says that understanding the real origins of the Osborne - Mandelson feud reveals why Mandelson is perpetuating it, and wants a constructive debate on the NHS. Peter Hoskin argues that Mandelson’s inept counterattack proves Labour are clueless about how to respond to George Osborne’s Progressive Conservatism, and doubts that Daniel Hannan’s comments about the NHS will damage the Tories in the long run. David Blackburn asks what is wrong with being a career politician, and notes the return of the Prince of Darkness.

Monday

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August’s Book of the Month

We've just seleceted our new Book of the Month over at the Spectator Book Club: John Updike's collection of short stories, My Father's Tears & Other Stories.  The collection features recent material and some stories that were written in the author's Sixties heyday, and was published just after his death in January.  It would be great to see some CoffeeHousers over at the discussion board we've set up here.

The Spectator

CoffeeHousers’ Wall 10 August – 16 August

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 August 2009

…here are some of the posts made over the weekend at Spectator.co.uk Fraser Nelson asks if David Cameron can afford the ‘untouchable’ Andrew Lansley. James Forsyth argues that a hike in Vat is inevitable, and discerns growing splits in the Pakistani Taliban. Peter Hoskin analyses General Richard’s claim that the Afghan conflict could last 40 years, and remembers one of the most indelible moments in 20th Century politics. Daniel Korski wonders how should Cameron structure his security team. Alex Massie dissects a very English cricketing fiasco. And Melanie Phillips notes an important postscript to the evictions in Sheikh Jarrah.

Sunday

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Why Mandelson isn’t deputy PM

As the country prepares for Peter Mandelson’s week in charge, The Mail on Sunday reports that the Cabinet Secretary, Sir Gus O’Donnell, put the kybosh on him acquiring the title of Deputy Prime Minister. O’Donnell may well have said that it was inappropriate for a peer to be deputy PM but I would have thought that Harriet Harman would also have objected. As the elected deputy leader of the Labour party, I can’t imagine she would have taken kindly to somebody else grabbing the title of deputy PM which Brown had conspicuously failed to offer her. Given all of Brown’s women trouble at the time of the mid-plot reshuffle, I doubt that he could have risked angering Harman.

Saturday

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A quiet revolution

The success of the open primary held by the Tories in Totnes could mark a turning-point in British politics. A candidate is usually selected by party members, but in Totnes all constituents were allowed to vote and they achieved a remarkable result: a turnout of one in four. Also remarkable was the candidate they chose: a doctor with little political experience who defeated two candidates, both with a long history of involvement with the Conservative party. Would the doctor, Sarah Wollaston, have been elected under the traditional system? It’s very unlikely. Party members, who make up less than 2 per cent of the population, would have chosen someone who reflected their own view of politics.

The Spectator

Don’t bank on a bonus

There is no set of results a bank could have declared this week which would have pleased the general public. A bank which made losses was inevitably going to be accused of continuing incompetence, while one which made profits was sure to be condemned for its greed. As John Varley, chief executive of Barclays, hinted on the Today programme on Monday, the dastardliness of public opinion should not obscure the fact that profitable banks — his made £2.99 billion in the first half of 2009 — are preferable to unprofitable ones. Anyone with savings in Barclays — not to mention anyone with any shareholdings — ought to be pleased that bankers are managing to earn their keep again.

The Spectator

Letters | 8 August 2009

See better, Sugar Sir: We the undersigned wish to condemn Baron Sugar of Clapton’s threatened legal action against our colleague Quentin Letts for calling him a ‘telly peer’ who ‘doesn’t seem to have an enormous intellect’ on LBC on 20 July. According to a letter Mr Letts received from Herbert Smith, Lord Sugar will issue a writ against Mr Letts for libel unless he pays his legal costs to date, donates an undisclosed sum to a charity and gives a written undertaking never to criticise him again. When journalists have been sued by public figures in the past — particularly by Members of Parliament — the convention has been to sue the newspaper or broadcaster that provided them with a platform, not to pursue the journalist personally.

Friday

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Just in case you missed them… | 7 August 2009

…here are some of the posts made on Spectator.co.uk this week. Fraser Nelson says that David Cameron should ditch the 50% tax rate, and catches his old chum Ed Balls telling porkies again. James Forsyth has Georgia on his mind, and is encouraged by rumours that a Tory government would include a designated Minister for Afghanistan. Peter Hoskin thinks the Tories must commission a second Freud report, and does not believe that tales of economic recovery will improve Brown’s situation. David Blackburn asks who is running the government at the moment and finds only confusion, and says that leaked slides of the Grey report reveal the MoD’s systemic incompetence.

Monday

The Spectator

CoffeeHousers’ Wall 3 August – 9 August 

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… | 3 August 2009

…here are some of the posts made on Spectator.co.uk over the weekend. James Forsyth says that the Afghan conflict will improve our security in the long run, and says that the Tory leadership will use seat vacancies to expand its ministerial talent pool. Peter Hoskin argues that if Mandelson runs for the Commons it will speak volumes for his relationship with Gordon Brown, and says that Harriet Harman is having another go at positioning herself for the Labour leadership. And Daniel Korski believes the Iraq Inquiry should examine bureaucracy.

Saturday

The Spectator

Swearing through the ages

‘Twat’ is not a swear word. This may come as a surprise to those of us who have studiously avoided using it in front of our mothers-in-law and elderly relatives. But after David Cameron said it in a radio interview, Tory press officers were quick to point out that Ofcom does not consider it to be one. Oddly, in the same interview, Cameron felt the need to apologise immediately after saying that the public were ‘pissed off’; a phrase that one would have thought was far less offensive than ‘twat’. Indeed, Ofcom’s own research suggests that Cameron rather boobed. It records that focus groups considered ‘piss off’ to be a ‘common, everyday word, not really offensive’.