Alex Massie is Scotland Editor of The Spectator.
Who would have thought, even a year ago, that the future of the Liberal Democrats would arouse such interest? Perhaps I was too harsh on Nick Clegg’s speech to the party’s conference; certainly Fraser was more impressed by it and the gang at Liberal Vision also seem pleased. Perhaps I was wrong to hope that
As rallying cries go, “Stick with us” lacks a certain something. But that’s how the Liberal Democrats roll and so it was that Nick Clegg was forced – or believed himself forced – to deliver a disappointingly defensive speech to the party’s annual conference this afternoon. Perhaps that’s what he needed to do. This was
Paul Krugman is back banging a familiar drum: austerity is not a good idea. Anywhere. As always, Ireland is one of his favourite examples: [V]irtuous Ireland never did better than malingering Spain. And now, Ireland’s risk premium has exploded, here; Spain’s not so much, here. Of course, it’s not at all a clean experiment; Ireland’s
In his latest column for the magazine (subscribe!) Charles Moore offers a backhanded compliment to Leicestershire and Staffordshire, writing that they, like much of the English midlands are “much more attractive than people think”. This seems reasonable: the solid, unfussed calm of midland market towns and the quiet pleasures of the midland countryside are oft-overlooked.
Pete mentions Tim Montgomerie’s suggestion that a Labour-Liberal Democrat coalition at Holyrood could be the most likely result at next year’s Holyrood elections. As Tim puts it: One thing I’ve worried about for sometime is the implications for the Coalition of bad results for the LibDems in next year’s Scottish elections but it is perfectly
Country music ain’t always about cowboys and outlaws; there’s the distaff side of strong and righteous ladies too. Notably, in this instance, Loretta Lynn and her warning that You Ain’t Woman Enough (To Take My Man)…
I’ve suggested that the current crop of opinion polls are meaningless. That’s not true. As a friend pointed out, they measure public opinion and that can’t be considered wholly meaningless. So let me put it another way: the “meaning” of the opinion polls is, at present, greatly over-valued by the Westminster Village. Happily, uber-expert Philip
Yorkshire cricket is the epitome of hard, correct cricket. Lancashire cricket is always bowling into the wind, beating the edge and wondering if luck will ever shine on the Red Rose. Kent cricket, I somehow feel, should always be played in a manner that has the ghosts of Woolley and Cowdrey murmuring their approval. These,
The Yarrow Valley, yesterday. More later, including a post on Freddie Flintoff plus the excruciating conclusion to the County Championship. But for now, a pastoral scene to soothe overstretched Somerset nerves… UPDATE: Bloody Notts have taken the three wickets they needed to steal the Championship from Somerset. 119 years of not winning the title now.
Since it’s Pope Day, let’s consider this tediously-hardy perennial too. Commenting on this post, Fifer asks: Since you’ve given this some thought, then, perhaps you can answer me this – why, exactly, are my taxes being used to fund an education system divided in Scotland on sectarian lines when, out of a population of 5
And welcome to Scotland and the rest of the United Kingdom. Of all the pointless activities in all the world you’d think telling the Pope he’s wrong must rank pretty highly. So I don’t think there’s much point in standing outside Bellahouston Park today shouting “There is no God you know” at the 70,000 Roman
More on Christine O’Donnell’s stunning victory in the Delaware GOP Senate primary in due course but it’s worth pointing out that such a triumph almost certainly could not happen in Britain. Not even in our new primary-friendly Tory party. Because most of the contests called primaries in Britain are really forms of caucus, not proper
Are Labour really going to make Ed Miliband their next leader? Tea leaves and whatever passes for momentum in this race suggest that this is quite possible. If the younger Miliband – the one who, allegedly, can speak “normal” – does prevail then what hesitant conclusions may be drawn? 1. David Miliband’s support at Westminster
That’s the message of the US’s forthcoming $60bn arms-deal with Saudi Arabia. Or so says David Rothkopf anyway: [T]he reason that the U.S. government — that would not have done a deal like this in the years right after 9/11 — is willing and even a little eager to move ahead with the deal now
Sunder Katwala is not convinced by Nick Boles’ suggestion that the coalition should fight the next election on a joint-ticket. He sniffs a Tory ploy: What [Boles] is offering the Liberal Democrats is simply the chance to lash themselves to the mast of the Coalition’s austerity agenda – and to collude in an attempt to
Further to this post, it’s not a fair fight. Commenter Ben G asks: But isn’t Culloden more significant? The effective end of a Scottish claim to the throne. Remember, after that you became ‘North Britain’. This is a common misperception. Unlike Flodden, Culloden was not a fight between England and Scotland. As many, and perhaps
Obviously this is one of John Rentoul’s Questions to which the Answer is No. Nevertheless, given that the TUC is fond of congratulating* the Castro regime for its great achievements and humanity and all the rest of it one does wonder if the Congress will want to regret the Castros apparent, if unusual, embrace of
Kevin Drum is in danger of becoming a lapsed tennis-fan. In particular he laments the elimination of the serve-and-volley style of play: […] I find myself following tennis less and less every year. Why? Because it’s gotten boring. Sure, today’s players are phenomenal athletes, covering the court like gazelles and routinely hitting breathtaking shots. But
One of the problems with journalism is its love of novelty. Fret not that an argument makes no sense, love its novelty instead! This has been exacerbated in the internet era which, for all its many virtues, has been a boom-time for crackpots. One assumes that this explains why Forbes magazine, desperate for some attention,
One difficulty the coalition faces is persuading people that cuts in public spending – and reducing the number of public sector employees – is not in fact an attack on public sector employees. The coalition, contrary to what some pretend, remains in favour of doctors, nurses, police officers and even teachers. The Prime Minister may