The Spectator

CoffeeHousers’ Wall, 14 July – 20 July

Welcome to this week’s Wall, as always this is your space to write and chat about what you want. Do let us know if there are things you would like to see us cover on Coffee House. If you’d like to add photos or videos to the Wall, email phoskin @ spectator.co.uk

Letters | 12 July 2008

A pariah writes Sir: I dealt for 30 years with hundreds of Muslims, at first in Mr Doyle’s organisation, so I am not ‘ignorant’ of Islam (as he claims, Letters, 5 July), which seeks to conquer this world, not the next, politically. If he disagrees, he should consult Islam’s most ‘moderate’ authorities like Yusuf Qaradawi,

The Glasgow Doctrine

In an unexpected plot twist, David Cameron and Gordon Brown are fighting over a woman: not, we hasten to add, as suitors, but as public moralists. The Prime Minister has long been a fan of Gertrude Himmelfarb, the American intellectual best known for her studies of the Victorian era. Now, Mr Cameron has paid homage

A week in posts

Here are a selection of the Coffee House posts made this week: Fraser Nelson explains what is really going on in the credit market and writes about how the Glasgow East by-election is shining light on the two nations of Scotland. James Forsyth wondered whether Labour should get the defeat out of the way as

In case you missed them | 7 July 2008

Here are some of the posts made over the weekend: Fraser Nelson notes that Gordon Brown is only “currently” leader of the Labour party. The Skimmer wonders how a bunch of Labour talking-points got turned into an FT editorial. James Forsyth reflects on the resignation of Ray Lewis and the rather hysterical reaction to it

CoffeeHousers’ Wall, 7 July – 13 July

Welcome to the third CoffeeHousers’ Wall. CoffeeHousers’ Wall is a new feature on Spectator.co.uk. Every Monday, we’ll put up a ‘wall’ post and – provided 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 topic, so

Letters | 5 July 2008

Cummins unstuck Sir: Rod Liddle (Liddle Britain, 28 June) is mistaken to suggest that only Guardian journalists objected to articles published in the Sunday Telegraph under the pseudonym Will Cummins. My Sunday Telegraph colleague Alasdair Palmer and I (both of whom have written frequently to attack Islamic fundamentalism and Islamist terrorism) protested strongly about them

The NHS needs its Reformation

The government has promised that from next year everyone aged between 40 and 75 will be offered an ‘MOT’ of their health. The patient most in need of a health check, however, was 60 this week: the NHS itself. To a limited extent the government has recognised the inadequacies of what for its first three

The week that was | 4 July 2008

Some highlights of the week on Spectator.co.uk: George Osborne wants your questions. Maurice Gerard reports on the aftermath of the presidential election in Zimbabwe. Fraser Nelson says that Ken Clarke has watered down the West Lothian Answer , and congratulates Kylie on her OBE. James Forsyth thinks Ed Balls has failed the laugh test, and gives his

CoffeeHousers’ Wall | 3 July 2008

We’ve added a new linking button to Coffee House – one which takes you through to the latest CoffeeHousers’ Wall.  It’s about halfway down on the right of any Coffee House page.  Should make it easier to head over to the Wall, and have your say on the week’s events. Alternatively, you can find this week’s CoffeeHousers’

Just in case you missed them… | 30 June 2008

… hare are some posts made over the weekend on Spectator.co.uk: Maurice Gerard reports on race relations from inside Zimbabwe. Fraser Nelson analyses the “meltdown” that Gordon Brown could face in Scotland, and claims that Wendy Alexander was not up to the job. Peter Hoskin marks Robert Mugabe’s disgraceful victory in Zimbabwe’s presidential election, and outlines where CoffeeHousers

CoffeeHousers’ Wall | 29 June 2008

This week’s CoffeeHousers’ Wall is here. Head over there to have your say on the week’s events and to let us know what you’d like to see on Coffee House. And remember that the CoffeeHouser who makes the best contribution to the wall this week will win a bottle of bubbly.  

Letters | 28 June 2008

Hard-won liberties Sir: In an otherwise well argued leading article (‘The old order changeth’, 21 June), you repeat the claim that ‘poll after poll has suggested strong popular support for the 42-day extension’. Well, up to a point Lord Copper! Certainly, the public has been more than happy to support the idea that ‘suspected terrorists’

CoffeeHousers’ Wall | 28 June 2008

This week’s CoffeeHousers’ Wall is here. Head over there to have your say on the week’s events and to let us know what you’d like to see on Coffee House. And remember that the CoffeeHouser who makes the best contribution to the wall this week will win a bottle of bubbly.

The UN is not the Holy See

The situation in Zimbabwe is intolerable: on that all decent people can agree. Robert Mugabe has turned the breadbasket of Africa into a wasteland. He has set his militia, his army and his police to beat, rape and kill his own people. He respects neither the results of any democratic ballot nor the norms of

The week that was | 27 June 2008

Some highlights of the week on Spectator.co.uk The new CoffeeHousers’ Wall feature has been launched. David Davis answers CoffeeHousers’ questions. We ask CoffeeHousers to vote on where it all went wrong for Gordon Brown. Maurice Gerard reports from inside Zimbabwe. Matthew d’Ancona thinks Brown’s uncontested rise to power is a major factor in his poor first

CoffeeHousers’ Wall | 27 June 2008

This week’s CoffeeHousers’ Wall is here. Head over there to have your say on the week’s events and to let us know what you’d like to see on Coffee House. And remember that the CoffeeHouser who makes the best contribution to the wall this week will win a bottle of bubbly.