The Spectator

Barometer | 8 October 2011

Late winners The Nobel Prize is not usually given posthumously; but an exception was made this week for Ralph Steinman, a cancer scientist who, unknown to the Nobel committee, had died three days before being awarded the Nobel Prize for Medicine. He is in good company in being honoured posthumously. Peter Finch, George Gershwin and

Portrait of the week | 8 October 2011

Home George Osborne, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, told the Conservative party conference in Manchester that the Treasury would spend billions buying bonds from small and medium-sized businesses in an exercise called ‘credit easing’. He announced a freeze on council tax for a second year, saving householders an average of £72. He also remarked: ‘We’re

Leading article: The Osborne doctrine

What with all the excitement over Italian courtroom dramas, not enough attention was given to a radical statement by George Osborne at the Conservative party conference. It was one of the few important pronouncements made in Manchester this week. He declared: ‘Let’s at the very least resolve that we’re going to cut our carbon emissions

Letters | 8 October 2011

Boris and the Johnsons Sir: Toby Young speaks of ‘the (Johnson) family’s roots as Turkish immigrants’ (‘Plan B’, 1 October). Though I’m always amused by what Toby writes, I have to point out that he is not always accurate. These are the facts. My paternal grandfather, Ali Kemal, was married to my grandmother, Winifred Blum. Winifred’s

The week that was | 7 October 2011

A selection of posts from the past seven days at spectator.co.uk Fraser Nelson explains Cameron’s debt U-turn and says that party conferences are now more for lobbyists than activists. James Forsyth says the Tories knew the importance of Boris’ speech and that Cameron did enough in his. Peter Hoskin says Gove’s school reforms provided the

We need your vote | 6 October 2011

It’s that time of the year again. The nights are drawing in and the Spectator is choosing its parliamentarian of the year. As in previous years, we’re asking you to vote for a readers’ representative. So, which politician has excelled in the noble art of politics in the last twelve months? Think carefully, there must

CoffeeHousers’ Wall, 3 October – 9 October 2011

Welcome to the latest CoffeeHousers’ Wall. For those who haven’t come across the Wall before, it’s a post we put up each Monday, on which — providing your writing isn’t libellous, crammed with swearing, or offensive to common decency — you’ll be able to say whatever you like in the comments section. There is no

Just in case you missed them… | 3 October 2011

…here are some of the posts made at Spectator.co.uk over the weekend. Fraser Nelson asks if the health budget is falling, and writes a short history of George Osborne and tax cuts. James Forsyth watches David Willetts introduce the three Ds, and reports on Cameron’s tricky interview with Andrew Marr. David Blackburn considers Andrew Lansley’s