Coffee House The Spectator Blog
How emotional should politicians get?
Drew Westen, the super smart American political scientist who wrote for The Spectator a few weeks back, has extracts of his new book on why leaders need to connect on… Continue reading
1 CommentWhat is Mark Malloch Brown up to?
Further to James’s post, when the prospect of a Darfur deal at the UN was raised on the PM’s plane to Washington nine days ago, I asked British officials this… Continue reading
4 CommentsA period of silence on Malloch Brown’s part
This morning’s Today Programme had an item on the Foreign Office Minister Mark Malloch Brown that’s well worth listening to. Malloch Brown has quickly become the most controversial of Gordon’s… Continue reading
2 CommentsA Golden Opportunity for the GOP
A ballot initiative in California could have more impact on the 2008 presidential race than any of the back and forth that is going on between the candidates at present.… Continue reading
0 CommentsYou don’t want to say that
Here’s the Guardian’s website reporting William Hague’s defence of David Cameron today: “Speaking at a press conference in central London, Mr Hague also dismissed claims that Mr Cameron was failing to… Continue reading
4 CommentsWhy England industrialised first
Was the industrial revolution a product of downward social mobility? That’s the argument of a forthcoming book by the American historian Gregory Clark. His thesis is that as the rich… Continue reading
7 CommentsCameron shouldn’t be cowed by Cowie
Sir Tom Cowie is always great value for journalists. When I was a business hack, I would call him up when reporting the annual results of Cowie Plc, the car… Continue reading
5 CommentsThe state of Basra
The Washington Post this morning has a sobering account of the situation on the ground in Basra. The paper reveals that the US government has expressed concerns about the impact of… Continue reading
2 CommentsThings you shouldn’t reveal on Facebook
If you’re the daughter of a presidential candidate who already has political problems because of his complicated family life it doesn’t help if you reveals on your Facebook page that your supporting another… Continue reading
2 CommentsWhat Labour MPs should read instead of The God Delusion
The most popular book among Labour MPs this summer is, according to a new survey, The God Delusion by Richard Dawkins. I have rather mixed views on Dawkins who is… Continue reading
15 CommentsAnother Rumsfeld blunder
Abu Ghraib was a shameful episode and Don Rumsfeld, true to obstinate form, never seemed to grasp quite how much damage it had done America. But what is equally revealing is… Continue reading
2 CommentsHelp, help me Rhondda, there’s been another defection
After Quentin Davies defected to Labour, Ed Balls hinted that there would be more to come. Well, one is about to be announced. Are you sitting down? It is none… Continue reading
4 CommentsIs Ashcroft’s money a reason for Brown to go early?
John Kampfner has a piece in The Guardian today urging caution on Labour and its supporters about the party’s electoral prospects because of the amount of resources Lord Ashcroft is… Continue reading
2 CommentsMalloch Brown wanted a joint EU seat on the UNSC
The Tories have dug up a rather good story. When Mark Malloch Brown was still at the UN he was a strong advocate of the EU having one collective seat… Continue reading
2 CommentsMiles off
‘Food miles’ is one of the new eco buzz phrases and makes people think that buying local food is inherently better for the environment. But an op-ed in the New York… Continue reading
8 CommentsAmerica looks for a first spouse
One of the most notable features of the 2008 presidential race is the amount of attention being lavished on the spouses of the candidates. Just today we have a New… Continue reading
1 CommentWhat are Britain’s best blogs?
Iain Dale is compiling a list of the best political blogs in the UK and wants to know what y’all think. If you want to take part just send iain AT… Continue reading
1 CommentGordon’s retirement plan
With Brown celebrating what Matt rightly calls a triumph of a first month, it is a strange time to consider his retirment as I do in my column in today’s… Continue reading
3 CommentsMiraj row rumbles on
The Ali Miraj saga takes another twist with a piece by him in The Sunday Times alleging that a current member of the shadow cabinet offered him a peerage soon… Continue reading
4 CommentsScreening the PM
The Times has a cracking story this morning about how everyone in Whitehall is coping—or not—with Gordon Brown’s ferocious appetite for work. Apparently, “His weapon of choice is the mobile… Continue reading
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