This morning I want to talk about the future of Europe. But first, let us remember the past. Seventy years ago, Europe was being torn apart by its second catastrophic conflict in a generation. A war which saw the streets of European cities strewn with rubble. The skies of London lit by flames night after
Journalist and film director Michael Winner passed away today aged 77. He was a popular diarist in the pages of The Spectator, with his most recent offering appearing in January 2010. In that column, he described the filming of his TV series ‘Michael Winner’s Dining Stars’, and mused about what might happen if it flopped:
By the time the Prime Minister cancelled his Europe speech yesterday evening, extracts had already been briefed to journalists. A new date has yet to be announced, but here are the extracts that have been released: Britain should play an active part in Europe: ‘I want to speak to you today with urgency and frankness
‘How demeaning — I’ve actually heard of some of these people.’
‘Apparently they come as standard for all new builds.’
‘You can’t beat the gun lobby — we’re loaded.’
‘Oh, for goodness sake. Mummy’s going to have to pay for that now!’
‘We have to move with the times, captain — mechanisation is here to stay.’
‘Why does my parent have to be a professional chef?’
‘Statement jumpers are everywhere this season.’
‘Today’s text is from St Paul.’
‘OK, fingers on buzzards, please.’
‘HVQLO TWXBD YZRSU JDMVN SDYGH.’
‘It’s not fair. Why should I have to fund your lifestyle choice?’
Aid waste Sir: In Andrew Mitchell’s response to my article ‘The Great Aid Mystery’ (5 January), he asks ‘what about the 11 million children in school who wouldn’t be there’ if it weren’t for DFID’s aid efforts. It would be hard to come up with a more representative example of the dishonest marketing rhetoric that
