Coffee House The Spectator Blog
Why I can’t take Norman Baker seriously
Folk on the previous thread seem to think that I should have dismissed Norman Baker’s belief that David Kelly might have been murdered so quickly. The problem is when you… Continue reading
4 CommentsThe MP who thinks David Kelly was murdered
Norman Baker, the Lib Dem MP, has gained a reputation in Westminster as one of the best ferreters out of information. But his new theories about how David Kelly died… Continue reading
9 CommentsA peek at Gordon’s vision
One of the surprises of Gordon Brown’s premiership so far to date, is how little substantive policy there has been. Pretty much everything Brown has done has been about political… Continue reading
3 CommentsWhy won’t The Independent print this letter?
On Thursday, when I saw that The Independent had reprinted almost word for word Foreign Office talking points without attribution or any indication to its readers that this is what… Continue reading
6 CommentsHoward’s end?
Nothing is going right for John Howard at the moment. Following a slight improvement in the polls last week came a poor showing against Kevin Rudd in the only debate… Continue reading
6 CommentsHollywood goes to war
Just out of the Lions for Lambs premiere in Leicester Square. It is the latest of Hollywood’s celluloid attacks on the White House, and a call to arms. The plot:… Continue reading
1 CommentAbortion lobby on the back foot
On Wednesday the Health Minister, Dawn Primarolo MP (pictured), will be giving evidence to the Science and Technology Select Committee. She has already provided her answers to our assumed questions… Continue reading
53 CommentsThe McCain comeback
If I was a betting man, I’d be very tempted by the 16 to 1 available on John McCain to be the 2008 Republican nominee. McCain has had a fantastic… Continue reading
2 CommentsWho would have thought it?
There is a long tradition of the pop intelligentsia getting involved with academe or publishing – Pete Townshend’s work as an editor for Faber being the obvious example, Jah Wobble’s labours… Continue reading
5 CommentsBlair for president of Europe
I’d like to put on record my strong support for Tony Blair as a future European President. What better way to ensure that Brown does not co-operate anymore with Brussels?… Continue reading
4 CommentsThe Times: tabloid in news values as well as size
This morning’s Times has an interview with Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan — not a bad journalistic commodity at a time when separatist Kurdish rebels killed at least 12 Turkish soldiers… Continue reading
3 CommentsOne of Labour’s worst ideas yet
Even by the high standards of this government the idea that schools should have to give back 5% of any money they save to the government seems particularly half-baked. Whatever… Continue reading
0 CommentsMelanie Phillips joins Spectator.co.uk
Matthew d’Ancona, editor of The Spectator, writes: I am proud to welcome Melanie Phillips to Spectator.co.uk as one of our regular bloggers. The essence of The Spectator, in print and… Continue reading
20 CommentsThe cost of Brown’s indecision
The Guardian this morning reveals that the election that never was cost the Labour party about £1 million with poster sites being pre-booked, staff hired and election communications printed. By… Continue reading
1 CommentThe latest on the row over The Independent’s lack of independence
Coffee House’s scoop about how The Independent reprinted in its pages a Foreign Office talking points on the EU Treaty with only the most minor of changes and without attribution is… Continue reading
0 CommentsJohn Howard stumbles in Australian election debate
John Howard and Kevin Rudd went head-to-head tonight in the only leader’s debate of the Australian election. Most commentators are giving it to Rudd. His opening was upbeat, talking about… Continue reading
2 CommentsWhy we need to look again at our abortion laws
Anyone who thinks that our abortion laws–or to be more precise, how they are interpreted—don’t need looking at should read this article from The Sunday Times. Here’s how it starts:… Continue reading
5 CommentsBacks against the wall stuff
Does politics imitate rugby? I just heard Martin Corry on Sky saying how England pulled itself together midway through the tournament. Heading for defeat, the players brainstormed with the coach,… Continue reading
7 CommentsNeighbours
Hilarious insights from Anthony Seldon, a Blair biographer, in his new book which looks at the tumultuous final year of Blair’s tenure. Ed Balls referred to Blair as a "moron"… Continue reading
2 CommentsPay them and they will come
A perennial problem in politics is whether you pay miscreants to behave if the cost of treating them is higher. Why not pay drug addicts to go clean, given that… Continue reading
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