The spat between Boris Johnson and Theresa May over the acquisition of three second hand ones from the German police has the air of a dormitory water pistol fight that has left an unprepared Johnson standing in dripping pyjamas. It has become a received wisdom that the incident raises questions about Johnson’s fitness for high
From ‘Coal and its Problems‘, The Spectator, 24 July 1915: The high price of domestic coal, though undoubtedly an immediate injury to the country, will prove an ultimate benefit. Politicians never seem capable of understanding that high prices if left alone kill themselves, first by reducing consumption, and secondly by stimulating production. The only condition
From ‘Germania contra mundum’, by Lord Cromer, The Spectator, 24 July 1915: What, therefore, are we and our Allies fighting for? Without attempting to deal fully with the considerations which may be adduced in connexion with each separate branch of this subject, it may perhaps be as well to make a catalogue— and possibly an
From ‘The Pacificist Vision’, The Spectator, 24 July 1915: It must not be supposed that the majority of Americans are pacificists, but there are enough pacificists to force a strong tide of feeling through the country. In the West an advanced pacificisin—what seems to us, when we reflect on the probable results, a hopelessly unthinking
‘Mein Gott! Is the Führer really doing a royal wave?’
‘That’s enough homework — dinner’s ready.’
‘To conceal your identity, we’re making you leader of the Liberal Democrat party.’
‘As you can see, Graham has been working closely with the food and drinks industry.’
‘Do you think he’s noticed we’re abroad?’
‘They’re going on a school exchange with three girls from London.’
‘He spends so much time watching cookery programmes, gardening programmes, home improvement programme — nothing gets done around here!’
‘Then Julian, Dick, Anne, George and Timmy uploaded the footage of their adventure to YouTube…’
‘That’s cheating!’
Don’t write off Assad Sir: Ahmed Rashid refers to our ‘Arab allies’ supporting al-Qaeda (‘The plan to back al-Qaeda against Isis’, 18 July). Clearly they are no allies of ours, so thank you Mr Rashid for pointing this out. Apart from that, his perspective is peculiar. He starts off by accusing Assad of plunging Syria