The Blairites bite back

Turns out the mystery story is a Cherie Blair interview being run jointly by The Sun and The Times. The Sun promises to run the "bomshell" interview on its website at midnight. Andrew Pierce (an expert at nicking rivals' scoops) has the lowdown in the Telegraph - Tony Blair censored his wife's book, he says, so she's letting rip in an interview instead. But the extracts suggest even this is far from bilious. Knowing Cherie, all will have all come at a price - hence the expectation and secrecy. You might say:...

Continue reading...

Email to a friend  |   Permalink  |   Comments (43)

The week that was

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, and points out that more than half of Labour voters want the Prime Minister to step down.

And Peter Hoskin tracks Brown's charm offensive, and asks whether Cameron has started to tackle Brownies.

Email to a friend  |   Permalink  |   Comment

Story alert

A good political story is about to break. Have no idea what, but Westminster's nervous system is twitching. My only information is that it is "big, followable and with us by midnight". Stay tuned.

UPDATE: The story is "good, but not an earthquake" I am told. That's good news for the Tories. They don't want the earth moving under No.10 before election day.

P.S. Iain Dale has a fantasy list of what the story could be ("Clegg says it was 130, not 30"). Not long to go now.

Email to a friend  |   Permalink  |   Comments (33)

The situation in Burma

The news that food aid to Burma has had to be suspended because the military junta that rules the country has seized it for its own purposes is as depressing as it is predictable. Considering that one and a half million survivors of the cyclone are in dire need of assistance, the consequences of this are appalling. The situation in Burma is a reminder of why Amartya Sen was right to argue that only democracy guarantees that the best interests of the citizenry is the state’s paramount concern.

Email to a friend  |   Permalink  |   Comments (5)

The Spectator 180th anniversary party

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 - www.spectator.co.uk/party.  Check it out for red carpet access, celebrity interviews and all the happenings from behind-the-scenes.

Email to a friend  |   Permalink  |   Comment