Society

Thursday

5 Feb 2009

To cap or not to cap?

One of the more perplexing puzzles of the credit crunch is the issue of bankers’ bonuses. On the one hand, those failing banks that are being propped up by the taxpayer need to hang on to their best staff so they don’t collapse completely. Awarding bonuses helps them to do that. But, on the other, the idea of rewarding failure – as today’s Times splash suggests RBS is about to do – is an affront to both free market and taxpayer alike. These contrary pulls make me favour the middle ground of a cap on bankers’ bonuses, like that announced by Obama yesterday. But that just throws up questions about

Alex Massie

Whither Commerce?

I spent five years in Washington and could not tell you what the Commerce Department really does. Now that i think of it, I doubt I could name any of George W Bush’s Commerce Secretaries. Certainly, none have lodged themselves in the memory. Which is another way of saying that apart from the big three offices of State, Defense and Treasury, most cabinet positions are not terribly important. Yes, it’s embarrassing for President Obama that Tom Daschle has had to withdraw from being considered for HHS but this is hardly the mortal wound some are suggesting. The identity of Obama’s healthcare supremo is rather less important than the health bill

Peter Hoskin

Will Miliband lose out in the torture row?

As John points out, there are numerous questions over the alleged American threat to withdraw intelligence cooperation should the UK release evidence about the treatment of Binyan Mohamed at Guantanamo Bay. But whatever the doubts, and however forceful the denials, the situtation is still potentially damaging for the US and UK governments – especially in the wake of Hillary Clinton’s praise for the “special relationship” a couple of days ago. Much like last year’s rendition row, this latest controversy paints the relationship as a bullying one in which the US holds all the power, and reopens some of the old wounds over trust. I can’t help but wonder whether David

John Stokes

Stopping US-UK intelligence cooperation is impossible

The idea that America threatened to withdraw intelligence cooperation if British courts released evidence of alleged torture as two High Court judges suggested earlier this week has been ridiculed by the spooks on both sides of the Atlantic. The intelligence relationship is so close that it would be simply impossible for cooperation to stop and America would be damaged at least as much as the UK. For example, a whole floor of the National Security Agency’s headquarters at Fort Meade in Maryland is staffed by spooks from GCHQ in Cheltenham. At Cheltenham itself, every intercept that goes through GCHQ’s computers is largely shared with the Americans. And both Britain and

Wednesday

4 Feb 2009

Alex Massie

England vs West Indies

Intriguing. Interesting. Fascinating. All words often used to spruce up slightly dull cricket. But the first days’ play in Kingston has been intriguing. And interesting. And good. A slow outfield may have cramped scoring, but once England had won the toss and elected to bat there’s little doubt Chris Gayle would have been happier than Andrew Strauss had you told the skippers that the visitors would finish the day at 236/5. 350 may well prove a competitive score on this pitch, though there’s also every prospect that it will be flattest, and best for batting on days two and three. Not that it was a minefield today, mind you. Who

Alex Massie

Quote for the Day | 4 February 2009

“One cannot underestimate how widely admired Tom Daschle is in Washington for his integrity.”—David Gergen, advisor to every President since Nebuchadnezzar and, er, the barometer of DC’s Conventional Wisdom. Of course, Gergen also means one cannot “overestimate” the extent of “Washington’s” admiration for Mr Daschle. Verily, greater love hath no man than to lay down the misery of health care reform for the millionaire luxuries of non-lobbying lobbying… [Thanks: Reason]

James Forsyth

The lie goes all the way around the world before the truth gets it boots on

Daniel Finkelstein flags up that the United Nations Relief and Works Agency have now ‘clarified’ that Israeli shells did not hit one of its schools in Gaza. So, one of the supposed ‘facts’ used by those–including the UN Secretary-General (pictured)–who argued that Israel was being careless about the impact its military operation was having on civilians turns out not to be a fact at all. Although, it is, obviously, still tragic that innocent people died regardless of where they were located. As Melanie pointed out when doubts were first raised about this incident, a false version of events—a version that some UNWRA employees must have known was false—was allowed to

James Forsyth

Already twenty million sacked Chinese workers have headed back to the countryside

China’s rapid economic growth has largely kept a lid on the social tensions bubbling away there, underneath the surface. But with the world economy going into recession—which will hit China, with its export-dependant growth, particularly hard—these tensions could boil over. The Chinese government’s recently released figures, which are almost certainly an underestimate, show that already 20 million workers have lost their jobs in the cities and moved back to the countryside. One has to imagine that this is stretching the social fabric rather. Official figures also show that growth in 2008 was the slowest it has been for seven years. The Chinese government is predicting that 2009 will be the

Peter Hoskin

Did Blair want Charles Clarke to succeed him as Labour leader?

Ben Brogan picks up on an interview with Charles Clarke in tomorrow’s New Statesman in which the former Home Secretary claims Tony Blair wanted him to be Labour leader. Here’ s the key passage from the interview: “[Blair] had a great plan, apparently, that he wanted me to be foreign secretary because he thought that if I had been foreign secretary and home secretary I would be a credible opponent to Gordon, as the leader of the party. And this had been his long-standing strategy, and that was what he had been intending to do, and that’s what he hoped to do.” All immaterial now, I guess. But an intriguing footnote to the Blair-Brown struggle

Peter Hoskin

Six takes on the wildcat strikes

On top of our poll, we also put the question “Do you support the wildcat strikers?” to various friends of Coffee House. Here are some of their responses: Matthew Parris Businesses importing labour into recession-hit places need tact. An offshore barge filled with foreign workers was not unlawful but it was inflammatory. There’s something to be said for ministers being able to play Soft Cop to organised labour’s Hard Cop: look, you’re within your rights, old chap, but my friend Mr Wildcat-Striker has a nasty temper on him. Couldn’t we find a middle way? Matthew Parris is a columnist for the Times and The Spectator Douglas Murray Yes. The wildcat strikes are a terrific demonstration of

Peter Hoskin

Your take on the wildcat strikes

The Coffee House poll on the wildcat strikes closed at 10pm yesterday. Here are the final results: Question 1: Do you agree with the workers who have walked out in protest at the subcontracting of work to foreign companies and their workers? Yes: 53.4 percent No: 35.6 percent I don’t know enough about the details of the Total case: 11.1 percent Question 2: Do you support the free movement of workers within the European Union? Yes: 53.8 percent No: 39.2 percent

Alex Massie

The Federal Problem

Conor Friedersdorf makes a point that is too often overlooked: Abraham Lincoln often commuted three miles on horseback so he could sleep on the grounds of a military hospital at night; and that once during the Civil War a British traveler who wanted to meet Lincoln knocked on his door, got invited inside, and ended up spending over an hour chatting with the president. It is hard to imagine a modern president enjoying so much downtime. Perhaps so many early presidents are ranked among the best because though they faced grave problems, their tasks were limited. How would Lincoln’s job performance have changed if on top of his other duties

James Forsyth

Cricket needs a strong Windies

I always feel slightly ambivalent before the start of an England West Indies Test series. I, obviously, support England but I desperately want West Indies cricket to revive itself. The West Indies are the Yorkshire of world cricket: when the West Indies is strong, world cricket is strong. There are also few finer sights in sport than a West Indies team on form. So, how will England fare in the four match series that starts today? I expect they’ll win and that Kevin Pietersen, who has been in fine form in the warm up games, will score an absolute sack-full of runs and show everyone that while he might not

Peter Hoskin

The Tories have a marginal lead

Here’s a new poll of marginal constituencies by YouGov / Channel 4. On the whole, I guess the Tories will be pleased with it. They’re 7 points ahead of Labour (up 2 from a poll in October), and Cameron has a hefty lead on the question of who’s the best leader for the future. But there are some below-headline findings that may give them some small concern. Brown is still regarded as a better “crisis leader”, for instance (although, it should be said, Cameron is catching up with him). And a clear majority think Cameron is “talking down the economy” for political advantage. Still, overall, it makes much cheerier reading for CCHQ than for Number 10.

Peter Hoskin

PMQs live blog | 4 February 2009

Stay tuned from 1200 for live coverage of PMQs. 1204: And we’re off. First question from Karen Buck, on rising fuel bills. Asks Brown what further steps he will take to protect pensioners during the winter. An opportunity for Brown to mention the Winter Fuel Allowance 1206: Here’s Cameron. Leads by aksing whether a “retreat into protectionism” is the last thing the world needs. Brown responds that he’s made it clear that such a retreat is “the biggest danger” to the world economy. Slightly odd question from Cameron – allows Brown to mention “global action” and the G20. 1208: Cameron highlights the need to get India and China to make

James Forsyth

Another punishment beating for Ed Miliband

Brown central is said to have felt betrayed by Ed Miliband’s declaration of independence over the third runway at Heathrow. The sense of betrayal was heightened by the fact that Brown’s protégé was positioning for the post-Brown era. But one of the few things those in the Brown bunker can still do well is deliver a swift kicking to those in the Labour party who cross the Prime Minister. So, Ed Miliband is now being set up as the man to take the blame for the strikes. Kevin Maguire, a very good guide to what a certain section of Brownite opinion thinks, writes today that: “The PM is livid that

James Forsyth

Obama is losing momentum – and fast

Yesterday was the worst day of the Obama presidency so far. His agenda and his moral authority both took big hits. Tom Daschle being forced to withdraw from confirmation to be both Health and Human Services Secretary and the White House’s healthcare czar because of tax irregularities leaves Obama’s major domestic priority after the economy rudderless. Daschle, a former Senate Majority Leader, was picked because he was supposed to know how to get healthcare reform through Congress. The Obama administration knows where it wants to go on the issue and Daschle’s job was to steer them through the notoriously hard to navigate legislative shallows of the issue. The damage done

Peter Hoskin

Has Brown set a BJ4BW timebomb for the Tories?

Even now a reconciliatory deal looks hopeful, the Lindsey oil refinery remains a political minefield. Putting aside the question of how the proposed solution of giving around half of the 200 disputed jobs to British workers sits with EU law, the goverment will be worried that all this sets a dangerous precedent. There’s a sense that now the genie has been let out of the bottle – and given a potent rallying cry thanks to Gordon Brown’s deeply foolish and deeply misleading ‘British jobs for British workers’ claim – we will see more and more strikes like that in Lincolnshire. It’s a worry that’ll be exercising Tory minds too. Beyond

Alex Massie

Back from the brink on trade

At least that’s the message Obama seems to be sending to Democrats in Congress. In an interview with ABC News he was asked about the “Buy American” provisions in the “stimulus” bill and said he doesn’t want any “provisions that are going to be a violation of World Trade Organization agreements or in other ways signal protectionism. I think that would be a mistake right now. That is a potential source of trade wars that we can’t afford at a time when trade is sinking all across the globe.” Common sense, of course, but modestly encouraging nonetheless. UPDATE: Not so fast! Ambinder reports that the White House will “clarify” the

Hardeep Singh-Kohli

Turning 40 is a monsoon of my own mortality

By the time you read this I will have turned 40. Forty. Up until a few days ago, 40 was just a number, plain and simple — the sort of number that followed 39 and preceded 41; the sort of number that bands from Birmingham placed after the letters ‘UB’ before recording a few reggae-based songs; the sort of number that was occasionally mentioned on the Shipping Forecast, just before Cromarty, just after Viking and Dogger. My friends had emailed or called with concern, never quite broaching the subject directly, always skirting, dancing around the inevitability of my ageing, the ‘night follows day’ reliability of my mutability. I found myself