RSS

Contact us

Saturday 22 November 2008

The Spectator’s notes

The Spectator’s notes

Charles Moore on the nature of the season

Responding to a recent statement by Harriet Harman about her difficulties over donations, the Father of the House, Sir Peter Tapsell, told the Commons that her remarks had been ‘charming’. This will have surprised most of those who listened to Ms Harman, but in fact Sir Peter was using a convention which, until I heard him, I thought had died out. Just as MPs who were regular soldiers are referred to as ‘gallant’ in the House, and MPs who are also QCs are called ‘learned’, and MPs who have courtesy titles are (or were) called ‘noble’, so the speeches of women MPs used automatically to be characterised as ‘charming’. The word sometimes sounded strained but, when you think about it, it is no more so than the word ‘honourable’ or, also in the parliamentary context, the word ‘friend’. Is it time for an epithet for those who have followed the profession of spin-doctor — ‘eloquent’?

Last week, the Chief Constable of Merseyside, Ben Hogan-Howe, gave a powerful explanation of how health and safety law forces policemen to be less brave than the public, who are not governed by the same rules. His words made me think of the citations for medals such as the Victoria Cross, or for the George Cross (for which policemen are eligible). They often say that the winner ‘displayed a complete disregard for his own personal safety’. This is intended as a commendation: today it could be part of a charge sheet.

Still thinking about the teddy bear called Mohammed, I wonder what rules, if any, govern the use of the name Jesus. It is a close relation of Joshua, which, in that form, all Christians and Jews, and many non-believers, use happily. But in Britain, at least, Christians would not call their children (let alone their teddy bears) Jesus, because it would be considered presumptuous and potentially blasphemous. This anxiety does not apply, however, in the Spanish-speaking world, where plenty of people are called Jesus. I wonder why there are different views. The maitre d’hôtel at the Caprice is called Jesus Adorno, which combines religion and philosophy. The name fits him admirably.

Particularly warm Christmas greetings to Mrs P, of Kent, whom I shall not name for fear of reprisals against her. Responding to this column’s occasional campaign against TV Licensing’s rude letters ordering those who do not possess televisions to buy television licences or face prosecution, Mrs P tells me that she has not had a set since 1994. From November 2000, she decided to collect all the menacing letters that TV Licensing sent her, and has now accumulated 24. ‘I am 84 years old,’ she writes, ‘and being an old, English and obstinate granny, I am not bothered, but regret the undermining of the rule of law which this behaviour causes.’ ‘Is it not illegal to send threatening letters?’ she asks, and adds, ‘I shall not allow anyone to search my house without a police warrant.’

More articles from: Charles Moore | this section

Print this article  |  Email to a friend  |  Permalink  |   Comments (2)

Post this entry to:   del.icio.us | Digg | Newsvine | NowPublic | Reddit

Advertisement

Spectator Business | Apollo Magazine

Corporate | Advertising | Privacy | Terms

Spectator, 22 Old Queen Street, London, SW1H 9HP

All Articles and Content Copyright ©2008 by The Spectator | All Rights Reserved