From ‘The Finance of the War’, The Spectator, 20 February 1915: According to Mr. Lloyd George’s estimate, the three Allied Powers together will have expended on war purposes by December 31st next something like £2,000,000,000. British expenditure, he estimates, will exceed that of each of the other two Powers by something between £100,000,000 and £150,000,000.
From ‘News of the Week’, The Spectator, 20 February 1915: The great event of the week ought to have been the beginning of the blockade by Germany of the whole of the shores of the British Islands. Strangely enough, however, Der Tag passed in complete calm, and we are now informed by German wireless that
From ‘Labour Problems and the War’, The Spectator, 13 February 1915: The ultimate object of all Trade Union regulations is to improve the pecuniary position of the wage-earner. How far that object is attained by Trade Union methods is a matter of very keen controversy. There are economists, like the late Mr. T. S. Cree,
From News of the Week, The Spectator, 13 February 1915: In the House of Commons on Thursday Mr. Asquith made three notable announcements. In future Sir John French will send twice a week a communication summarizing the doings of the British Force. Evidently “Todgers’s can do it when it likes.” Next Mr. Asquith explained that
From ‘Prohibition in Scotland during the war’, The Spectator, 13 February 1915: WE note with great interest the movement which is gathering strength in Scotland in favour of prohibition during the war. Let us say at once that, provided a well-marked majority of the representatives of the Scottish constituencies support the movement, we not only
‘I expect they’ll turn him into lasagne.’
‘They used to hit each other, now they just Snapchat.’
‘It’s so I don’t have to watch Fifty Shades of Grey.’
‘A word of warning: he doesn’t suffer fools gladly.’
‘Shouldn’t there be a catastrophe in that sentence?’
‘My results have come back. It’s bad news.’
‘...goes to Jack Benson, who, without provocation, turned off his mobile for 24 hours.’
‘Taxi for somebody!’
‘We will of course keep you fully uninformed.’
‘Here you are, dear — it’s to celebrate your obesity levels levelling off.’
‘I’ve seen them trying to make one on the internet…’
A vandalistic proposal Sir: Igor Toronyi-Lalic (Farewell, ENO, 7 February) displays a lack of judgment in advocating ENO’s demise and in suggesting that opera needs no opera houses, companies or subsidy. That its new arts editor should plead for the closure of England’s great repertory opera company is unworthy of The Spectator. Toronyi-Lalic is wrong