Coffee House The Spectator Blog
The soft bigotry of low expectations
In response to Iain Dale – I do, of course, mean lively by Brown’s standards. For him to say stuff that solicits any response from the reader is a result.
1 CommentContradictory Gordon
This morning, Gordon Brown told the Commons liaison committee: "You cannot make decisions and assume that people will simply follow them. Most decisions can only be successful if people are… Continue reading
7 CommentsBrown gets lively
Normally, interviewing Gordon Brown is like drawing blood from a stone. In the old days, the interviewer had to rely on someone like Charlie Whelan to call up afterwards and… Continue reading
9 CommentsThis inquest has gone too far
The word “disgrace” is used too liberally, not least by journalists. But no other word will do justice to the cross-examination today of Sir Miles Hunt-Davis, the Duke of Edinburgh’s… Continue reading
24 CommentsThe shameful state of social mobility in Britain
Today’s report from the Sutton Trust on social mobility in Britain makes for depressing reading. Their tracking of the Millennium cohort of children suggests that by the age of seven,… Continue reading
9 CommentsA local government classic
Residents of the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea received this message from their local council this morning, which begins: “Dear Resident(s), Recycling and Refuse Collections Days are changing in… Continue reading
4 CommentsLabour’s next rebellion
Mark Mardell has a fascinating post up about a forthcoming EU directive that would allow people to travel to another member state for medical treatment. Left-wing Labour MPs like Frank… Continue reading
6 CommentsBrown’s artful dodger act
This time, Brown came ready for Cameron. If asked about one of the many embarrassing issues dogging him, he’d say “he has missed the opportunity to talk about substance” then… Continue reading
20 CommentsIs Fabio the man to bring an end to forty years of hurt?
The most encouraging thing about the news that Fabio Capello is set to become England manager is his refusal to accept egos in his team. One of the problems that… Continue reading
25 CommentsListen to last night’s Iraq debate
We now have the full audio of last night’s Spectator / Intelligence Squared Iraq debate available. Whatever your opinion on Iraq, it really is worth listening to, the speakers were… Continue reading
1 CommentAn illegitimate argument
Today’s headlines about how one in five kids is born to a foreign mother overlooks a rather interesting fact. In London, it’s one in two. And these newcomers conform better… Continue reading
9 CommentsTony Benn’s lack of General knowledge
Did anyone else notice a slightly alarming episode during last night’s Spectator/Intelligence Squared Iraq debate? After an air-borne (from the gallery) intervention by General Sir Mike Jackson, Tony Benn responded… Continue reading
5 CommentsLabour’s thin blue line on pay
At first glance, Labour’s decision to pick a politically damaging fight over police pay when avoiding it would cost £40 million at most is bizarre. But as Michael White explains… Continue reading
11 CommentsGoing negative
The Republican primary race has entered a decisive phase with Mitt Romney’s decision to go negative on the surging Mike Huckabee. Romney’s unleashed the first attack ad of the campaign… Continue reading
0 CommentsListen Live: The Great Iraq Debate
You can now listen to the Spectator / Intelligence Squared Iraq debate from Methodist Central Hall by clicking here. The cast of speakers is stellar and includes William Shawcross, Sir… Continue reading
0 CommentsIs there anything less festive…
Than miserable looking employees in Santa hats. Getting my coffee this morning, I was struck by just how dejected all the baristas in Santa hats looked. If some Union wants… Continue reading
1 CommentPutin will still be calling the shots in Russia
Dmitri Medvedev, who Vladimir Putin anointed as his successor yesterday, today pledged to make Putin Prime Minister of Russia when he takes office. Medvedev even admitted that Putin would be… Continue reading
2 CommentsWhy there’s so much talk about the Labour succession
Both Rachel Sylvester and Steve Richards cast their expert eyes over the Labour succession in their columns today. The current emphasis on who will succeed him must be absolutely infuriating… Continue reading
6 CommentsEverything left to play for
Today’s poll in The Times shows how much in flux British politics still is. A Tory optimist looking at it might rejoice that the party has breached 40 percent for… Continue reading
5 CommentsThe Murdochs and the Middle East
Rupert Murdoch is such a hard-right supporter of Israel — Ariel Sharon was his great hero (he even visited him on his farm) — that many regard him as a… Continue reading
5 Comments