Politics

Daniel Yates provides a British soldier’s view of Operation Cast Lead. Fraser Nelson says Harman’s cunning plan could hit her own side, and wonders whether the green brigade will enjoy this recession.  James Forsyth claims that nationalising the banks would just create new problems, and asks: how bad will this get? Peter Hoskin thinks that “cash for amendments” threatens to damage Parliament’s reputation further, and wonders whether someone will devise an early warning system that won’t be ignored. Alex Massie submits a defence of lobbyists. Melanie Phillips reviews Barack Obama’s first week in office. And Clive Davis gives his thoughts on the BBC, Gaza and the LSE.

If it’s easy to pick on politicians, it’s easier still to pick on lobbyists. This is true on either side of the Atlantic. As Peter says, today’s allegations in the Sunday Times that Labour peers are trading cash for legislative amendments are unlikely to increase the esteem in which parliament is held. While members of the House of Lords are first in the firing line, I suspect we’ll also probably hear calls for a further clampdown on lobbying. All, of course, in the name of removing temptation from what Guido Fawkes calls our “parliament of whores”. In the United States, Barack Obama spent most of last year railing against the

Here are some of the posts made on Spectator.co.uk over the past week: Matthew d’Ancona writes about a worthy opponent for Obama. Fraser Nelson responds to LabourList over national debt, and wonders whether Britian is going to go the way of the Royal Bank of Scotland. James Forsyth thinks the latest Tory reshuffle is a setback for Tory radicalism, and spots Barack Obama’s memo to Miliband. Peter Hoskin says that now’s the time for “new politics”, and outlines the Pickles approach. Lisa Hilton highlights an affront to faith and thought. Alex Massie wonders about Cameron the radical. Melanie Phillips observes a defining moment. Clive Davis marks the moment of Obama’s

James Forsyth says that both Brown and Cameron are mesmerised by the new President, who will be the lodestar of political life in this country. The contest to lay claim to his policies and style has begun — the risk being that our leaders are found sorely wanting by comparison David Cameron and Gordon Brown would not be human if they had not felt a little jealous on Tuesday night. They will never give a speech like Barack Obama or draw a crowd as big as his. To rub salt in the wound, Obama had just achieved — without knowing it — what they have spent their adult lives trying

I had thought that the Scottish Tories suggestion that they would invite Barack Obama to come to Scotland to collect his “Obama tartan” represented the most shameless attempt to hop aboard the Change We Can Believe In Express. But not so! Segolene Royal claims the prize: “Yes, I inspired Barack Obama and his team copied us” He sent a team to Paris to study her “Desire for the Future” site. “He took the idea of ‘win-win’ and the ‘citizen expert’ from us.” [Ms Royal said.] Oddly, this inspirational example seems to have been overlooked by most, nay all, other observers and chroniclers.   [Hat-tip: Ben Smith. Translation from the French

Charles Moore’s reflections on the week Watching the BBC’s excellent dramatisation of Anne Frank’s diary last week, I was struck by the family relationships depicted. They reminded me strongly of another family. Otto Frank, Anne’s father, was the dominant and admired figure in the household. He ran a small business supplying pectin for jam-making, but his intelligence fitted him for greater things which circumstances prevented. He had two daughters, and no sons, and was very ambitious for his younger, livelier daughter, Anne. His wife, Edith, was much more withdrawn, and Anne felt that her mother did not understand her. Anne, though she loved her family, had the self-absorption of the