…here are some of the posts made over the weekend on Spectator.co.uk: Peter Hoskin looks into the biggest failure of the Tory opposition years, and asks whether the Tories need an “-ism”. David Blackburn laments the “Dear Leader’s Children”, and picks up on the stench of realpolitik. Martin Bright gives his take
Conservative progress Sir: So the notion of ‘progressive’ conservatism is roiling British politics these days (Politics, 15 August). Well, come on over to the colonies, mate, and get educated! We in Canada have had ‘progressive conservative’ political parties, at both the provincial and federal levels of government, for decades — they’re even officially named Progressive
The Spectator on Culture — and our new team blog This week’s issue concludes our guide to 40 poems you should know, hot on the heels of The Spectator’s (controversial) choice of the best 50 films of all time. The response to both lists has been passionate and powerful: it comes as no surprise that
A party striving to make the huge leap from opposition to office must speak with one voice, maintain scrupulous clarity and ensure iron discipline. It must reassure the voters relentlessly, persuading them at every available opportunity that it has changed and that it grasps why it has been defeated in prior general elections. Yet a
There are less than three weeks to go until the Spectator Inaugural Conference, on 15th September 2009 at Church House, Westminster. Click here to book tickets. And, just in case you missed them, here are some of the posts made at Spectator.co.uk this week. Fraser Nelson laments what was a bleak day for Scottish justice,
Over at the Spectator Book Club, we’ve just added Political editor Fraser Nelson’s selections to our list. There’s no politics to be seen, but take a look at what he chose. And as ever, send us your recommendations.
Over at Spectator Book Club, Spectator staff have put together a list of books for summer reading, Take a look and send us your selections.
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 on Spectator.co.uk over the weekend: Fraser Nelson sets out why we need a proper debate about healthcare. James Forsyth reveals some cartoon cowardice, and says that the Tories must cut out the unforced errors. Peter Hoskin wonders whether George Osborne has downgraded the Tories’ health spending commitment, and
Not since Ian Botham has a cricketer so captured the public imagination as Andrew Flintoff has these past few years. Flintoff’s appeal comes from the fact that he brings the game of the village green to the Test match arena. He plays the sport as all those of us who have put on whites would
The Spectator on the plight of Britain’s vulnerable children Families are the raw materials from which society is constructed. They constitute the foundations of our civilisation. And it follows that there are few more unnatural actions that the state can undertake than to invade the relationship between parent and child or even to sever it.
Primary colours Sir: As a former chairman of a Conservative association, I read with interest your suggestion that the open primary held by the Tories in Totnes was a success (Leading article, 8 August). The association I chaired was constantly under pressure to increase membership. When we attempted to do so, prospective members quite reasonably
…here are some of the posts made on Spectator.co.uk this week. Fraser Nelson says that Lord Mandelson’s attempt to incite class war avoids the real problems confronting education, and laments the fate of ‘Brown’s children’. James Forsyth says that understanding the real origins of the Osborne – Mandelson feud reveals why Mandelson is perpetuating it,
We’ve just seleceted our new Book of the Month over at the Spectator Book Club: John Updike’s collection of short stories, My Father’s Tears & Other Stories. The collection features recent material and some stories that were written in the author’s Sixties heyday, and was published just after his death in January. It would be
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 over the weekend at Spectator.co.uk Fraser Nelson asks if David Cameron can afford the ‘untouchable’ Andrew Lansley. James Forsyth argues that a hike in Vat is inevitable, and discerns growing splits in the Pakistani Taliban. Peter Hoskin analyses General Richard’s claim that the Afghan conflict could last 40
As the country prepares for Peter Mandelson’s week in charge, The Mail on Sunday reports that the Cabinet Secretary, Sir Gus O’Donnell, put the kybosh on him acquiring the title of Deputy Prime Minister. O’Donnell may well have said that it was inappropriate for a peer to be deputy PM but I would have thought
The success of the open primary held by the Tories in Totnes could mark a turning-point in British politics. A candidate is usually selected by party members, but in Totnes all constituents were allowed to vote and they achieved a remarkable result: a turnout of one in four. Also remarkable was the candidate they chose:
There is no set of results a bank could have declared this week which would have pleased the general public. A bank which made losses was inevitably going to be accused of continuing incompetence, while one which made profits was sure to be condemned for its greed. As John Varley, chief executive of Barclays, hinted
See better, Sugar Sir: We the undersigned wish to condemn Baron Sugar of Clapton’s threatened legal action against our colleague Quentin Letts for calling him a ‘telly peer’ who ‘doesn’t seem to have an enormous intellect’ on LBC on 20 July. According to a letter Mr Letts received from Herbert Smith, Lord Sugar will issue