Unmentionable question Sir: Peter Hitchens is no doubt right that the collapse of marriage among heterosexuals is a more serious matter than extending marriage to same-sex couples (‘The gay marriage trap’, 17 March). The damage to the family started with the removal of stigma from having children out of wedlock and divorce on demand; and
The Chicago school David Cameron has called for the building of a new generation of ‘garden cities’. In Britain the term is most associated with Letchworth, founded in 1903 by Ebenezer Howard, who formed the Garden City Association in 1899. His concept was for a series of towns with populations of up to 32,000, spread
Home In the Budget, George Osborne, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, raised the threshold for workers to start paying income tax at standard rate to £9,205 and announced a gradual reduction of the rate for those earning more than £150,000 from 50 per cent. He imposed a higher level of stamp duty on houses costing
For the past couple of months, government business has been bogged down in the detail of taxation policy. Higher personal tax allowances, a lower top rate, more stamp duty for £2 million mansions, a tycoon tax — all have been batted across the coalition ping-pong table at dizzying speed. While engaged in this game the
In the hot-seat this week: Louise Mensch, the Conservative MP for Corby. Author of 15 bestselling novels, she knows a good read when she sees one. She has a string of recommendations for those in search of light relief after a stressful week; and she lists some Old English classics for those who want a
Back in August 1991, Michael Lewis examined the disintegration of his ex-employer — investment bank Salomon Brothers — for The Spectator. His semi-autobiographical story, Liar’s Poker, went onto to become an international best seller. Here is the article in full for CoffeeHousers: The Judgement of Salomon, Michael Lewis, The Spectator, 24 August 1991 We never
Here is a selection of articles and discussions from this week on Spectator.co.uk… Most read: Nick Cohen on the spectre of militant secularism. Most discussed: Douglas Murray asking how to solve to a problem like Baroness Ashton. Most shared: Nick Cohen speculating on whether Osborne will close the ‘Livingstone Loophole’. And the best of the
Colm Tóibín began his writing career as a journalist. Although he wrote his first novel, The South, in 1986, it took him a further four years to find a publisher. Since that seminal moment, Tóibín has delivered five other novels; two books of short stories; two plays, as well as several works of non-fiction. He
Here’s the full transcript of this morning’s Today programme interview with George Osborne: Evan Davis: If you believe in using the tax system to cut the incomes of those at the top and in using the welfare system to hand money to the poor, then yesterday’s budget was probably not for you. The Chancellor hinted
What was really in George Osborne’s Budget? Last night we held an event, in association with Aberdeen Asset Management, to discuss just that. Click here for a free pdf copy of the briefing paper produced for the event.
A new world flavour to Shelf Life this week, as the novelist Sean Thomas Russell joins us from Vancouver. He has been getting to grips with Shakespeare — an attempt, perhaps, to escape the pervasive influence of Bill O’Reilly. His latest novel, A Ship of War, is published in Britain next week. 1) What are
George Osborne’s plans for more tax transparency have been widely interpreted as a political masterstroke. People will be horrified to learn the cost of servicing Britain’s national debt, or paying our welfare bill, goes the argument. The move will create downward pressure on public spending, driven by the public itself — a classic example of
…here are some posts made on Spectator.co.uk over the weekend: Fraser Nelson provides an insight into the man behind the Budget and asks if Lansley’s time is finally running out. James Forsyth examines Osborne’s logic behind local pay rates and reports on Downing St’s plans to boost construction. Peter Hoskin asks why Balls attacked Brown
