Highlights from the latest Spectator
Fraser Nelson 11:02am
The latest issue of the Spectator is out today, and here are my top five features:
Might Cameron face a general strike? Pick up today’s papers, and you read more and more unions planning to strike to protest against utterly necessary and inevitable cuts. Dennis Sewell points out that Greek trade unionists have started to tour Britain, encouraging protests along the lines that the rich caused the mess so they, not the public sector workforce, should pay the price. Underlying this is the belief by the Unions that the Tories lack resolve, and will buckle – as Heath did. The odds are that the unions will get together to test Cameron’s resolve, and the result could well be a general strike.
Is there any culture outside London? Ben West took his play to England's regional theatres, only to find a "cultural desert" where only "Elvis impersonators and stand-ups" can draw audiences. Weird, he says in the lead piece for our arts section, that while the West End is booming regional theatre in England seems to be dying a slow and agonising death.
Piers Morgan: "I want to stand for Parliament". This is the interview that we previewed on Coffee House yesterday. In it, I think that Piers unwittingly explains why he so loathes David Cameron: he secretly agrees with the Tory agenda. What he said about the broken society, absent fathers etc could have come straight out of a Tory speech. So don’t fight it, Piers. Many young men start our left-wing, and end up Conservative as their experience of life evolves. A lively read, as you'd expect.
The budget con tricks of next week. Failure of the BBC and other media to distinguish between “debt” and “deficit” creates opportunity for Brown to confuse voters – and James Forsyth says that’s precisely what he’ll do. James also asks why Darling gets the image of a good guy, when he’s the one putting his name to all this spin and deception.
Why American Jews are backing Obama. Don't trust in appearances, says Sam Tanenhaus. Relations between Israel and Washington may look to be in crisis - but, for most Jews, the US is the real Holy Land. We also have Taki add his tuppenceworth on Israel.
All the above are free to view for our subscribers - plus plenty more besides.
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djw2009
March 18th, 2010 11:43am Report this comment>>>For those who are not subscribers - do come and join us.
Fraser, you need to clearly take a stance in favour of traditional conservatism first. I am not funding any outfit in favour of multiculturalism, immigration, the EU and quangocracy. You need to break decisively with "Dave".
I used to buy the Spectator every week, and read the Daily Telegraph and Sunday Telegraph every day. I have not purchased any of these for at least FIVE years - and currently read them for free online. I am not funding any warmed-up leftism. Getting rid of Ancona was a start, but you have to do much more to get my pennies.
William
March 18th, 2010 11:51am Report this commentDavid Cameron's biggest problem - the workers are getting uppity.
Same old Spectator.
paulg
March 18th, 2010 12:13pm Report this commentdjw2009@ if your reading the sunday telegraph every day, you must have a form of azheimers as it is only published once a week.
Nicholas
March 18th, 2010 1:15pm Report this commentHey, William, I'm a worker and I'm getting uppity about a corrupt, lying government that knows only how to spin and has been corrupting, lying and spinning for 13 years.
Same old Labour.
djk
March 18th, 2010 1:36pm Report this commentHow can you describe anything by or about that wittering imbecile Piers Morgan as a highlight?
Doppelganger
March 18th, 2010 2:43pm Report this commentWell said djw.
By the way Fraser, what is the cover price these days.
JohnAnt
March 18th, 2010 4:16pm Report this commentNo Fraser, I'm not going to re-subscribe or even buy the magazine again until I'm convinced you've turned away from trendy 'let's give the left a chance' politics, the supertrivia of Venetia Wossname et al, and the twee retirement diaries of Roy and his Dog.
I do not care who has been to NYC recently and has a book on interiors or Stalin coming out this week. I am not interested in slack, vapid features about handbag heritage trails in Mustique or the Andamans. I do not want to read what Mandelson wants us to believe he 'thinks' this week.
I want to see bite, grip, tearing, hungry, passionate, furious anger, levelled at the government and where necessary at the Shadow Cabinet.
The Speccie had a solid and relatively large core of intelligent readers.
It blew it. And they're not coming back in a hurry.
HFC
March 18th, 2010 6:55pm Report this commentWhat JohnAnt said.
David Lindsay
March 18th, 2010 9:46pm Report this comment"protests along the lines that the rich caused the mess so they, not the public sector workforce, should pay the price"
Imagine!
Of course, there would be no threat of civil strife if either main party said this obvious thing, which is fully in keeping with the traditions of both of them.
djw2009
March 21st, 2010 1:01am Report this commentpaulg, I am 40 years too young for Alzheimer's, but thanks for the "reasoned" reply.
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