The Spectator

The bits of Magna Carta that David Cameron won’t want taught in schools

Plus: Does a dirty football team indicate a crime-ridden country?

issue 21 June 2014

The not-so-great charter

David Cameron wants every child to be taught about Magna Carta. Some bits he might want to leave out:
— ‘If one who has borrowed from the Jews any sum, great or small, die before that loan be repaid, the debt shall not bear interest while the heir is under age.’
— ‘No one shall be arrested or imprisoned upon the appeal of a woman, for the death of any other than her husband.’

Foul play

Is there a correlation between bad behaviour from a country’s football team and violence in the country as a whole?

WORST-BEHAVED TEAMS IN EUROPE
Homicides per 100,000 people
Ukraine 4.3

Romania 1.7

Croatia 1.2

Iceland 0.3

Bulgaria 1.9

Fouls in World Cup qualifying
Ukraine 186
Romania 164
Croatia 156
Iceland 153
Bulgaria 148
Germany 0.8

Spain 0.8

BEST-BEHAVED TEAMS IN EUROPE
Homicides per 100,000 people
Georgia 84
Italy 79
Northern Ireland 76
Germany 70
Spain 58
Fouls in World Cup qualifying
Georgia 4.3
Italy 0.9
Northern Ireland 1.0
Germany 0.8
Spain 0.8

Source: Fifa/Nationmaster

Baby steps

Labour wants to introduce four weeks’ paid paternity leave. Here’s how paid maternity leave compares in developed countries:

Czech Republic 4 years

Sweden 16 months

Germany 12 months*

UK 12 months

Canada 50 weeks

Italy 22 weeks

France/Spain 16 weeks

Japan 14 weeks

USA None†

*14 months for single parents
†Except in California, New York and a handful of other states

Suffering for their art

Harrison Ford was injured by a spaceship door while making a Star Wars film.

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