Modern Conservatives seem to be allergic to success. Every time things are going right, the party spasms. Sir John Major’s government nurtured a remarkable economic recovery, yet was beaten after its infighting appalled voters. In opposition, David Cameron acquired a habit of blowing opinion poll leads — a habit he did not, alas, shake off
Here’s something that you won’t read often in The Spectator: Ed Miliband is right. Britain’s energy market is broken, and a small number of big companies have the upper hand against consumers. But the solution, of course, isn’t state intervention – it’s more competition. That’s why The Spectator is making its own foray into the
‘I don’t care where you heard it from, you’re not to call Grannie “bitch” again’
‘How long are you going to let him invade my personal space like this?’
‘Soon there won’t be enough little people to pay taxes.’
‘It’s me, I’ll be a bit late — I’ve been asked to hold forth.’
‘Look, someone drowning...Film it.’
‘Would you mind harassing me? I need to claim compensation.’
‘The cat wants to be on YouTube again.’
‘My ambition is to be filthy rich, and I’m half way there.’
‘Sex them down a bit.’
‘These corruption allegations — how much to make them go away?’
‘So, we’re all agreed… we’re going to panic.’
We need religion Sir: Roger Scruton (‘Sacred hunger’, 31 May) describes a reason, dare I say a ‘purpose’, for religion in society. Evolutionary biologists such as the evangelical atheist Richard Dawkins should accept the concept of evolution in the social behaviour of Homo sapiens. Archaeological and anthropological evidence suggest that some form of religion played a
Home The government scrabbled together material for the Queen’s Speech, which promised measures to allow money to be put into ‘collective defined contribution schemes’ for pensions, as is done in Holland; to prevent pub landlords who are tied to large companies being worse off than independent publicans; to increase penalties for human traffickers; and to