On 19 February 2005 The Spectator’s cover bore the arresting headline: ‘Goodbye England’, and the sombre silhouette of a lone huntsman. The issue attracted much attention, capturing, as it did, the sense of something ancestral and precious being needlessly slaughtered, as hunting with hounds finally became a criminal act. This was a feeling that spread
Fraser Nelson charts Brown’s Stateside errors, and implores the Tories to reward the strivers. Matthew d’Ancona claims Harrison Birtwistle’s The Minotaur is a chilling masterpiece. James Forsyth points out the shared values of the UK and the US. And Peter Hoskin asks whether purdah only applies to bad news.
Here are some posts made over the weekend: Matthew d’Ancona thinks Gordon Brown is his own worst enemy. Fraser Nelson charts Brown’s reign of error. Peter Hoskin tracks the growing sentiment that our Prime Minister won’t make it to the next election. And James Forsyth stresses the importance of May 1 to the Government, and
With the headlines dominated by Chinese action in Tibet, Issac Beech’s new Web Exclusive article – Reporting from Tibet’s cocoon – is essential reading. You can access it here.
Crowded isle Sir: You spell out the complexities of the immigration issue clearly in your leading article of 5 April, but the overriding problem, the nettle that simply has to be grasped, is its effect on the overall size of our island’s population. At more than 60 million it is already uncomfortably large, but a
A German economist visiting Britain was recently said to have declared himself baffled that a report about rising house prices was deemed to be good news. In Germany, he retorted, inflation in house prices, like inflation in food or energy prices, would be considered quite the opposite. By implication, there is an intellectually respectable case
Matthew d’Ancona reports on the schools battle. Fraser Nelson identifies Brown’s five steps to denial. Peter Hoskin suggests that relations between Britain and Iraq may be at a low ebb. James Forsyth points out how bad things are getting for Brown. And, over at Americano, James also sifts through John McCain’s thoughts on Iraq.
Head over to Trading Floor for the latest on the credit crunch, including: Fraser Nelson on the UK’s shaky economic framework. And Michael Millar on why it’s not all doom-and-gloom in the housing markets.
We’ve made a few changes to the website, in anticipation of the launch of our new magazine – Spectator Business – next month. An extra tab has been added to the navigation bar above, which will take you through to the Spectator Business part of the site. Alternatively, you can head to: http://www.spectator.co.uk/business. There, you’ll
Here are some of the posts made over the weekend: Peter Hoskin flags up a senior judge’s thoughts on family breakdown, and reports on another good poll result for the Tories. James Forsyth asks: can Nick Clegg recover? And analyses the situation in Basra. And, over at Americano, James also gives his views on Mark Penn’s resignation.
A child’s needs Sir: I doubt the suggestion in your leading article (29 March) that clause 14(2)(b) of the government’s Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill is a moral disgrace. The Bill breaks new ground in allowing two people of the same sex to be registered as the sole parents of a baby born through IVF.
Yet again, New Labour’s predilection for spin and misleading statistics has landed the government in trouble. Ministers have long been fond of making the argument for immigration on the basis that it increases the country’s GDP. But as the House of Lords Economics Affairs Committee rightly points out in its new report, adding more people
Nick Clegg answers CoffeeHousers’ questions. James Forsyth points out how bad things are looking for Gordon Brown. Peter Hoskin questions the Government’s eco-town policy. Fraser Nelson says we should dispense with the bureaucrats. And Matthew d’Ancona suggests that Hillary Clinton should cool it with the Rocky comparisons.
Do check out the latest posts over at Americano: James suggests that Obama may be losing his credibility. And someone’s said that Obama “can’t win” – but who was it?
Here are some of the posts made over the weekend: James Forsyth reports on how divisions in Team Brown are working against Douglas Alexander. Fraser Nelson decodes Ivan Lewis’ ideas on where the Labour Party should head next. And Peter Hoskin suggests that “Cycle-gate” hasn’t harmed David Cameron, and attacks Michael Martin’s life of luxury.
Not black and white Sir: Marian L. Tupy deserves thanks for his excellent article (‘Mugabe is the Mobutu of our time’, 22 March), despite one seeming inaccuracy and an omission. Tupy says, ‘It was 1980 and Zimbabwe had just gained independence from Britain… the first ever multiracial election gave Mugabe’s Zimbabwe African National Union a
The Spectator on the Government’s handling of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill To date, the government’s hand-ling of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill has resembled what might be called ‘Vicky Pollard politics’. Challenged to grant MPs a free vote on these far-reaching and ethically contentious proposals, the Prime Minister’s officials sent hugely confusing signals: ‘Yeah but
Revealed: the ten questions that CoffeeHousers will pose to Nick Clegg. James Forsyth says the Tories need to get serious about Iraq. Peter Hoskin assesses Nick Clegg’s first 100 days as Lib Dem leader. Fraser Nelson highlights a swathe of Brownies at PMQs. And Matthew d’Ancona asks you to comment on
Here are some of the posts made over the Easter weekend: Nadine Dorries MP criticises the Embryology Bill. Fraser Nelson warns Team Cameron that the Government may outflank them on education reform. Peter Hoskin suggests that Britain will benefit from a new nuclear power agreement with the French. The Skimmer assesses the response of brain-dead
Key question Sir: Debt, debt everywhere. Britain really is in trouble if — as Fraser Nelson suggests (Politics, 15 March) — the Conservative opposition is shying away from the ‘obvious strategy’ of proposing to freeze public spending or cut taxes. There is a sensible ‘bottom up’ approach for our leaders to take, namely to start