Books and arts opener – 10 September 2015
The Spectator
Thursday
A Russian revolution
From ‘The situation in Russia’, The Spectator, 11 September 1915: A new Russia has been arising within the old while the war has been going on. We have heard little of it, but we believe that the changes are deep and wide. A people cannot fight for liberty and justice without discovering that those ideas daily react upon
Wednesday
A British ‘kill list’ does exist. We used it in Afghanistan
The following article is by an ex-serviceman who served in Afghanistan. They’re making a list, they’re checking it twice – and Number 10 will know whether you’ve been naughty or nice. And if you’ve been very naughty, you’d better watch out for a metallic glint in the sky. Britain doesn’t have anything called a ‘kill list’,
Our longest-reigning monarch has presided over a second Elizabethan age
That the Queen has lived to become our longest-reigning monarch is in itself a sign of the golden age of prosperity which has been the second Elizabethan age. Over the 63 years of her reign, life expectancy for women has increased by a dozen years, to 83. The Queen may be remarkable for her age,
The Queen will do her duty. It is the duty of her peoples to match her example
This leader was originally published in The Spectator on 5 June 1953, following the coronation of Elizabeth II on 2 June. The splendour of the Coronation of Elizabeth II is over. It was a bright symbol, and its light will not fade quickly. Yet if the Queen lives as long as her loyal subjects have hoped, prayed,
Thursday
Gay
‘I’m gay, and according to my right-wing Christian fundamentalist parents I shouldn’t have got here.’
Cashpoint 3
‘There must be a glitch — it gave me some money.’
Selfie 9
‘You’ll ruin your eyesight if you keep playing with your selfie.’
Parents Evening 2
‘You’ll not be going to parents’ evening, I presume.’
Dinos
‘I like the fact they now come in larger sizes.’
Marriage 4
Lesson
‘Thanks for the lesson, Mum, but here’s one I ordered online earlier.’
Drunk 5
‘It’s OK, he’s pissed within government guidelines.’
Guns
Train 5
‘Groping or non-groping?’
Letters | 3 September 2015
Suicide and assisted dying Sir: As a mental health practitioner, I am grateful to Douglas Murray (‘Death watch’, 29 August) for his incisive commentary on the impact of legalised euthanasia on people with psychiatric conditions. Supporters of assisted dying argue that a permissive act would be tightly framed, but the scope would inevitably widen, as has
Barometer | 3 September 2015
Peers’ peers Forty-five new peers were created. Are we alone in having an upper house of parliament made up of appointed cronies? FRANCE Senate has 348 members elected for six-year terms by 150,000 state officials known as ‘grandes electeurs’. GERMANY Bundesrat is made up of 69 members delegated by governments of individual states. ITALY Senate composed
Elizabeth the Great
That the Queen has lived to become our longest-reigning monarch — a milestone which she will mark quietly with a lunch next Wednesday — is in itself a sign of the golden age of prosperity which has been the second Elizabethan age. Over the 63 years of her reign, life expectancy for women has increased
Portrait of the week | 3 September 2015
Home The Government decided after all to retain the rules preventing ministers and their departments from publishing campaign material, ‘with some exceptions’, in the month before the referendum on membership of the European Union. The Electoral Commission said the planned wording for the referendum, ‘Should the United Kingdom remain a member of the European Union?’