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‘We have no plans not to implement our budget’: the double negative employed by Phil Woolas, the Environment Minister, on Tuesday’s Newsnight, and the familiar ‘no plans’ formula, told you all you need to know about this government’s collapse of confidence. On the matter of retrospective Vehicle Excise Duty (VED) increases, ministers are desperate to
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Some highlights of the week on Spectator.co.uk: Matthew d’Ancona surveys the new political landscape. James Forsyth asks if New Labour can survive opposition and looks at the Cruddas alternative. Stephen Pollard explains why he is not unduly worried about 62 percent of the shadow cabinet being privately educated. Americano takes a look at McCain’s VP
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Thatcher’s champion Sir: The Spectator may have been Margaret Thatcher’s first press champion as Fraser Nelson notes (‘Labour’s best hope’, 17 May), but its support was not unwavering. At the end of 1974 it was unduly impressed by the efforts of Heath’s allies to brand her a food-hoarder when she sensibly encouraged pensioners to stock
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‘Progress prevails’: thus did the Guardian’s editorial on Wednesday celebrate the defeat of amendments to the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill that would have reduced the upper limit of 24 weeks for abortion and ensured that IVF clinics would need at least to consider the need for ‘supportive parenting and a father or male role
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A downloadable podcast of last night’s Spectator / Intelligence Squared event – “A conversation with Gore Vidal” – is available here. Lloyd Evans’ web exclusive report on the talk can also be accessed here.
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The latest Spectator / Intelligence Squared event – a conversation with the great American novelist, essayist and playwright Gore Vidal – is under way. To listen to live audio of the event click here.
From our UK edition
Here are some of the posts made over the weekend… Andrew Neil wonders whether Gordon Brown will shed a tear for his old grammar school. Fraser Nelson reveals the unsettling truth about abortions at 24 weeks, and reports on a by-election poll boost for the Tories. James Forsyth highlights the tensions at No.10, and says
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Transports of delight Sir: I would have taken Andrew Neil’s criticism of our transport system (‘Our transport system is a joke’, 10 May) more seriously had it not been so disingenuous. I understand the frustrations faced by rail passengers when events beyond their control conspire to delay or cancel planned journeys, but it is wrong
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We at The Spectator are concerned about our occasional contributor, Frank Field. In last week’s magazine, the MP for Birkenhead declared that ‘the 10p revolt is unlike any other faced by the Labour leadership over the past 11 years… it has at a stroke placed clear red water between practically the whole of the Parliamentary
From our UK edition
Fraser Nelson outlines the high cost of living, and claims that James Purnell could be the next Labour leader. James Forsyth asks CoffeeHousers to suggest what the Tories would achieve if in power, and wonders whether Ken Livingstone’s heading for Parliament. And Peter Hoskin says the bleak economic horizon spells trouble for Brown, and hopes
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Over on Americano, some thoughts on Hillary Clinton’s primary win in West Virginia, why John McCain should style himself as a Reform Republican and Obama’s tendency to blame his staff for his mistakes.
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Head over to Trading Floor for an update on consumer prospects. As Fraser reports, food inflation’s getting worse, whilst Pete picks up on a similar story for energy prices. And – on a different note – what do Russians think they need for making a fortune? According to a new survey – highlighted by James – the
From our UK edition
…here are some of the posts made over the weekend: Fraser Nelson is amazed at how quickly the public are turning against Gordon Brown, and highlights the Blairites’ coordinated effort to undermine the Prime Minister. James Forsyth wonders how the Blairs will fit into the next general election campaign. And, over at Americano, James also
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Israel and Palestine Sir: Melanie Phillips (‘Happy 60th birthday, Israel’, 3 May) denies Israel one of its greatest successes over the last 60 years by deliberately ignoring its status as a regional military and economic superpower. The image of Israel as a David to an Arab Goliath is massively outdated. Arab states have long since
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In September 2006, as Tony Blair was forced to bring forward his departure date by backbench rebellion, The Spectator predicted a Labour civil war. It was not clear when this conflict would erupt, only that its coming was inexorable. This week, battle commenced. In the wake of disastrous local election results and the loss of
From our UK edition
David Cameron answers your questions Matthew d’Ancona wonders whether Brown has broken the New Labour pact. Fraser Nelson serves up ‘Brownie No.3 – Gordon Brown’s “transitional” 10p tax rate’, and gives the word from Scotland on Wendy Alexander’s call for a referendum. James Forsyth suggests that Gordon Brown should embrace the fight over the Union,
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The champagne was flowing freely at this week’s party in celebration of the The Spectator’s 180th anniversary. We’ve just put up exclusive footage of the bash on a special corner of the website – new.spectator.co.uk/party. Check it out for red carpet access, celebrity interviews and all the happenings from behind-the-scenes.
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We’ve just released the first issue of the monthly Spectator Business magazine. You can access all of its content online – just head over here to check it out.
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What was the massive – and politically fatal – mistake that Hillary Clinton made at the start of her campaign? Find out over at Americano.
From our UK edition
Call that a crisis? Sir: Ian Hay Davison (‘How to rescue a bank’, 19 April) is right that the Northern Rock episode was far from unprecedented. But there is much more to say. The difficulties of a number of relatively minor institutions in the early 1990s, including National Mortgage Bank (to which he refers), were