Society

Sunday

Fraser Nelson Fraser Nelson

Escaping the Internet

This little phone, pictured, is my present to myself for this summer. It’s a Nokia 2630, costing £35 and distinguished by what it can’t do. No 3G. No email. No internet. No PoliticsHome, no ConservativeHome – just my wife’s family home in the outskirts of Stockholm, where I will be spending the next fortnight. I have all manner of missions lined up. There is a Swedish cookbook whose secrets I want to master. And there is a charming, rather charismatic 19-month-old boy I want to spend some time getting to know a little better. Last time I tried to take time off completely – sans internet – was my honeymoon.

Fraser Nelson Fraser Nelson

A soldier’s tale

This picture is, for me, one of the most haunting images of the Afghanistan war – Sally Thorneloe at her husband’s funeral last week.  Lt Col Rupert Thorneloe, who was killed by a Taleban roadside bomb three weeks ago, told me about her when we were on a trip to Iraq last summer. It’s weird, he said, he felt he saw her less working in London than he did on deployment. That day we left for the trip, he had arrived home at 2.30am – and left at 7am. Sally had seen him off. “Did you work as late as he did last night?” she asked the special adviser who

James Forsyth James Forsyth

Imagining Russia really will help squeeze Iran is naive

The well-connected Jim Hoagland has a preview of how the Obama administration hopes the next year or so of its foreign policy will pan out. On Iran, still the biggest foreign policy challenge facing this administration, Hogland writes: ‘The next diplomatic trampoline for Obama is the G-20 summit [on September 24th], which he will host and hope to use to forge new multilateral approaches on Iran and Middle East peace, as well as on global economic recovery. The president came back from Europe this month with what one senior U.S. official described to me as “Russian and G-8 buy-in” to that concept. “If the Iranians have not responded by then,

Peter Hoskin

A procurement strategy which puts troops in danger

As the row over Afghanistan continues, the Observer has unearthed what could be one of the most damaging revelations for the Government so far: “Defence ministers spurned three separate deals to buy American Black Hawk helicopters which would have helped to plug the dangerous shortage facing British troops in Afghanistan. The most recent rejection came only days ago, the Observer can reveal. A letter sent last week by the defence equipment minister, Quentin Davies, to Sikorsky, the US manufacturer of the Black Hawk, appears to admit that snubbing its latest offer could delay the introduction of desperately needed helicopters into Afghanistan. Davies admits that rather than opt for the “earlier

Martin Bright

The Growing Campaign on Libel

Very good to see Nick Cohen banging the drum for the reform of the libel laws in today’s Observer. He raises the case of the mathematicians who dismantled the economic models of the bankers who destroyed the UK’s financial system. Ministers have urged them to speak out, but they are wisely wary of the libel laws and the way they have been used by chiropracters against their fellow rationalist Simon Singh. Here’s Nick: “The naive, who suppose that the law would protect mathematicians who told the truth, do not understand the wretched condition of freedom of speech in England. The exorbitant costs of libel actions are far beyond the means

Alex Massie Alex Massie

The New “Old Tom”

Tom Watson strides up the 9th hole during round three of the 138th Open Championship. Photo: Richard Heathcote/Getty Images. This needs to be written now, not later. Because I’m still a sceptic. I’d love to believe that Tom Watson, 60 in two months time and sporting a new hip, can really win the Open Championship this afternoon. But sometimes faith and hope aren’t enough. The laws of probability and the remorseless weight of years of accumulated evidence scoff at the notion that Old Tom can pull it off. But, by god, wouldn’t it be splendid if he can? Commonsense dictates he can’t. Commonsense demands that Watson’s putter, the cause of

Saturday

Melissa Kite

Real Life | 18 July 2009

One of my enduring preoccupations is that somehow, some day, I will figure out a way to ‘beat the system’. Every now and then I get a little spurt of ‘system-beating’ activity when a particular injustice I am fighting — I have several dozen on the go at any one time — comes to a head. My efforts with one such issue reached fever pitch a few weeks ago when I had a flash of inspiration on the subject of my residential parking permit, which was up for renewal. They put the price up from £60 to £130 and I was not going to take it lying down. Obviously, the

Jeremy Clarke

Low Life | 18 July 2009

On Saturday night the hotel management threw a party for the guests. A Summer Party. We kicked off at 6.30 p.m. with tall drinks and canapés on the terrace. While we quaffed and nibbled and chatted, a singer sang to us. She sang her heart out to our indifferent backs and sunburnt necks. It was as if she were invisible to us, or her passion made her unreal. Then we went inside for a sumptuous buffet supper in the ballroom. Here, a five-piece band, including an accomplished lead guitarist with a golden earring, was doing its best to make the party go. The food queue passed right in front of

Taki

High Life | 18 July 2009

‘One can name-drop with impunity when writing about the past,’ said Nicky Haslam. ‘What is hard is to avoid it when writing of the present,’ according to the sage. I remember when this column began 32 years ago readers writing in to complain about ND. But what was I to do? Go to a grand ball and not mention anyone but the help? Or the name of those in the band? There was still high life back then, and most people wished to know who was partying and where. Before the crumbling of the social order it was fun to read about toffs dancing the night away. Now we have

Robin Oakley

The Turf | 18 July 2009

Many worry these days about the quality of British racing. Racecards are stuffed with low-rated handicaps for poor-quality animals simply to keep the betting-office tills churning. But the quality of the men and women steering them from the saddle has never been higher. You could not expect to see a better example of riding from the front than champion Ryan Moore’s all-the-way win at Newmarket last week on the top-weight Plum Pudding. Jamie Spencer’s last-gasp win at Ascot last Saturday on Secret Society demonstrated with exquisite perfection how to do things the other way. Famous for his late-finishing thrusts, which look brilliant when they come off and earn him punters’

The Spectator

Letters | 18 July 2009

A heated debate Sir: One reason why we continue to live in an unsustainable way is that not enough people accept the reality and implications of climate change (‘The great climate change con trick’, 11 July). Green issues may be higher up the agenda than before but Professor Plimer needn’t fret: procrastinating politicians continue to encourage business-as-usual consumption and unsustainable growth. Sadly, Professor Plimer is not alone in his climate-sceptic views, as sales of his new book indicate. So he has, it would seem, every reason to be cheerful. Nick Reeves Executive Director, Chartered Institution of Water and Environmental Management London WC1 Sir: It is sad to see the desperate

Rian Malan

Diary – 18 July 2009

As Johannesburg slid deeper into recession, I put in a bid for a rundown property in the suburb of Emmarentia. The ad said, ‘Bargain of the year! Two houses for the price of one!’ My offer was accepted and here I am, new owner of a rambling commune with seven toilets, six tenants and five dogs between us. All my neighbours are Muslim, exquisitely discreet and rarely seen. They glide down Muirfield Road in large silent cars. Automated gates slide open as they near and close behind them. Dead silence descends. What are they doing in there, behind those perpetually closed curtains? The women don’t even come out on Fridays,

Charles Moore Charles Moore

The Spectator’s Notes | 18 July 2009

It may well be true that some equipment given to British soldiers fighting in Afghanistan is inadequate. It almost certainly is the case that the government has willed ends without willing means, and it deserves to be criticised for that. But it is a mistake to encourage bereaved parents to think that their sons’ deaths were essentially avoidable. All wars are difficult. No army is perfectly provided for. The fundamental reason that soldiers die in wars is because wars are dangerous. Soldiers know this when they join up, and though they complain (grumbling being the sacred right of the soldier throughout history), they accept it. Their poor parents would gain

Tamzin Lightwater

Diary of a Notting Hill Nobody | 18 July 2009

Monday I wonder if Gary has Gwyneth Paltrow’s number? No reason he would have, obviously, but just on the off chance he did, it would be great to ring and ask her if she would consider doing a little fundraiser for us. Nothing over the top, just something tasteful with Chris Martin, saying how happy they are to be Tories, if indeed they are. I don’t want to ask him yet, because obviously the whole ‘phone-tapping’ thingummy is still v difficult and he looks a bit edgy. It can’t be nice being accused of something you had absolutely nothing to do with while you were in charge. It certainly is

Dot Wordsworth

Mind Your Language | 18 July 2009

‘It’s a good year for daisies,’ said my husband, looking up from the Daily Telegraph and casting an eye over the grass outside the window. ‘It’s a good year for daisies,’ said my husband, looking up from the Daily Telegraph and casting an eye over the grass outside the window. He’d learnt the fact from the former, though he might have noticed it in the latter. I’m not sure there has been a bad year for daisies in the past few centuries. In the late 1380s Chaucer wrote: ‘Of al the floures in the mede,/ Thanne love I most these floures white and rede,/ Suche as men called daysyes.’ Now,

Toby Young Toby Young

Status Anxiety | 18 July 2009

My heart goes out to Hardeep Singh Kohli, the turban-wearing comed-ian and writer (and a contributing editor to this magazine). According to a BBC spokeswoman, he has been suspended from The One Show for six months following a complaint by a female colleague. ‘He was reprimanded and immediately apologised,’ she said. ‘He agreed to take some time away from the show to reflect on his behaviour.’ I wonder what appalling act of sexism Kohli committed to upset his co-worker? Asked for her phone number, perhaps? Invited her out to dinner? ‘I recognise I overstepped the mark and have apologised unreservedly,’ he has said. The whole episode is eerily reminiscent of

Mary Killen

Dear Mary | 18 July 2009

Q. My host on a forthcoming holiday keeps his pool arctic cold so that it is not enjoyable for me to swim in it. I do not want to be a spoilsport. What should I do? Name and address withheld A. Bring a wet suit and swim in that, claiming you are extra sensitive to cold. Q. I recently attended the evening reception that followed the wedding of a male ex-colleague. On the way I picked up a bottle of champagne as a gift, but when I arrived I found that there was no obvious opportunity to present it. Both bride and groom were perpetually surrounded by well-wishers and, furthermore,

James Forsyth James Forsyth

A strategic dilemma for the Tories

Andrew Grice has a very interesting column in today’s Independent based on a look at Labour’s private polling. As always with internal polling, you can’t be sure you are getting the whole story. Grice uses the data to provide insight on the question of whether Cameron has sealed the deal or not; his conclusion is not yet. One particular line in the piece, though, jumped out at me: “Labour’s research suggests voters are open to the Tory dividing line of “Tory honesty versus Labour dishonesty” when it is run by Mr Cameron, but not when it is drawn by the shadow Chancellor, George Osborne.” This creates a dilemma for the Tories.

Alex Massie Alex Massie

The Most Influential Innings of the Decade

In 132 years of test cricket a side has followed on and won on just three occasions. Despite this, enforcing the follow-on has become almost as unfashionable in the modern game as stationing a fielder at third man. It is as though modern skippers have concluded that the accumulated weight of cricketing evidence, built up over more than a century, has lost its persuasive power in the contemporary game. So it wasn’t terribly surprising that Andrew Strauss declined to put Australia in again at Lord’s this morning. One man, above all, is responsible for the follow-on falling out of favour. Ever since VVS Laxman scored 281 against Australia at Eden

Peter Hoskin

Sainsbury sets out a different way of operating

There’s much to ponder in Lord Sainsbury’s interview with the Times today.  Does the major Labour donor rate Gordon Brown, for instance?  There’s enough ambiguity in some of his answers to suggest not.  And will he continue to give money to Labour ahead of the next election?  Again, there’s no definite answer – and that could be enough to provoke nervous jitters in Labour HQ. But the most thought-provoking comments concern the relationship between politicians and the civil service.  Sainsbury is scathing about the “out of date” civil service, which he feels could learn from private sector practices.  Here are some of his key points: “Ministers and civil servants are,