Some prime ministers settle immediately on the international stage, others take their time to adjust to the nuances required in dealing with the assortment of democratically elected politicians, benign dictators and outright rogues who lead the world. David Cameron, so far, has struggled, achieving within three months something that took Blair six years: having his
Here are some of the posts made on Spectator.co.uk over the past week: Fraser Nelson says that there is no Cabinet rift on benefit reform. Peter Hoskin uncovers the equality landmines that Labour have left the coalition, and reports on a ranking of post-war prime ministers. Andrew Haldenby begins a series of posts by the
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
…here are some posts made on Spectator.co.uk over the weekend: Fraser Nelson urges David Cameron to take this chance to end the giant evil of welfare dependency. Peter Hoskin says that the coalition’s challenge will be implementing its reforms, and outlines the growing Lib Dem conundrum. Susan Hill recounts her experience of knocking down a
Colourful Mo Sir: I am surprised to read Charles Moore (The Spectator’s Notes, 24 July) opine that ‘in a better world’ there would have been no film about Mo Mowlam but instead one depicting the ‘heroic struggles’ of Owen Paterson. Mo Mowlam was vibrant, colourful and exuberant — an authentic character who was in every
Mr David Cameron, the Prime Minister, visited India, and on the way said he was ‘angry’ that negotiations for Turkey to join the European Union were so slow. Mr David Cameron, the Prime Minister, visited India, and on the way said he was ‘angry’ that negotiations for Turkey to join the European Union were so
The Spectator on the threat Ed Balls poses to the government For Conservatives, a leadership fight is a blood sport: a feast of passion, revenge and political violence. Labour’s current contest has thus far been the precise opposite: an excruciatingly dull five-way verbal joust between candidates who have nothing new or original to say. Two
A small revolution in higher education took place this week when David Willetts, the universities minister, permitted BPP, a business and law college based in Shepherd’s Bush, to use the title ‘university college’. By doing so he created the first private university since Buckingham University opened its doors in 1976. The move was not to
…here’s a selection of posts made on Spectator.co.uk this week: Fraser Nelson outlines Pakistan’s double game in Afghanistan, and fears another EU power grab. Peter Hoskin watches Nick Clegg confirm his fiscal hawkishness, and argues that David Cameron’s provocative language over Gaza only obscures the issue. David Blackburn argues that there are few smoking guns
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
…here are some of the posts made at Spectator.co.uk over the weekend. James Forsyth reports on how the coalition plans to insulate its vulnerable Lib Dem component, and presents two Conservative approaches to electoral reform. David Blackburn thinks that Nick Clegg was wrong to defend his personal comments on the illegality of the Iraq war,
Carrying the fight Sir: Your leading article (Military matters, 17 July) suggests that aircraft carriers are vulnerable to missile and suicide attack. I am not sure where you have sought your military advice, but those who think along these lines usually know very little about carriers. We should reflect on carriers’ invulnerability, not their vulnerability.
In a speech in Liverpool intended to relaunch his theme of the Big Society, as a ‘big advance for people power’, Mr David Cameron, the Prime Minister, said that, as part of a scheme to ‘turn government completely on its head’, four community schemes were being set up in Liverpool (a museum project); the Eden
No Prime Minister wants to do battle with the European Union, which is why it has accrued so much power in such a short space of time. When preparing for government, David Cameron was warned by the Civil Service that if he wanted to wrestle powers back from Brussels — as he has promised to
Peter Cox was on his way to carry out some landscaping work at a friend’s house in Bridgwater in Somerset when he was pulled over by police on (false) suspicion of driving his BMW without insurance. The officer in question decided that Mr Cox was acting aggressively, and pulled out his Taser gun. Seconds later,
Here are some of the posts made at Spectator.co.uk this week. Fraser Nelson comments on the odious spectacle of Nick Griffin posing as a martyr. James Forsyth wonders if the government believes the Iraq war was illegal, and reports on very encouraging poll for the Tories. David Blackburn gets to grips with the Big Society,
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
…here are some of the posts made at Spectator.co.uk over the weekend. Fraser Nelson critiques Chuka Umanna’s comedy economics, and explores the statist underpinnings of DfID. James Forsyth analyses Mandelson’s miscalculation and says that the Tories are right to push through education reform. David Blackburn notes that the Afghan war is now subject to 2
The mills of God Sir: Theo Hobson’s concern at the emergence of Grindr (‘Gay sex by sat-nav’, 10 July) is understandable but he goes too far in describing the phenomenon as typical of male homosexual culture. Hedonism there certainly is, but that is not an exclusively gay characteristic, nor is it the case that male
General practitioners, operating in consortia under an independent commissioning board, are to take charge of 70 per cent of the National Health Service budget by 2013, with the abolition of all England’s ten strategic health authorities and the 152 primary care trusts, according to a White Paper. General practitioners, operating in consortia under an independent