Labour supporters celebrate the devaluation of the pound at a party rally in 1949
BRITAIN
Richards on Blair—a case of sympathy for the devil?
In the course of more than ten years as British prime minister, Tony Blair must have accumulated many prized momentos from global grandees. But a source from the Blair-era No 10 whispers to Prospect that Tony’s single most treasured possession is a personal letter from Rolling Stones guitarist Keith Richards in support of the Iraq invasion. “Keep on rockin’ ” was apparently Richards’s advice.
Oh dear. It seems that our former PM never did quite grow out of his college rock band phase, further evidence for which is found in one of the most squirm-making quotes from his memoir, A Journey (reviewed by Prospect editor David Goodhart): “It is true that my head can sometimes think conservatively…but my heart always beats progressive, and my soul is and always will be that of a rebel.” Yuk.
Cold comfort outside Cameron’s magic circle
Ever since he assumed the leadership, there has been a small, loyal and determined “inner circle” around David Cameron which includes George Osborne, a fistful of special advisers and—following the establishment of the coalition—one Nick Clegg.
The purpose of this group is simply to ensure that the Tory party, and now the government, stay in the centre ground. Many senior conservatives naturally feel frozen out—and suspicions over double standards within the coalition have been fuelled by the events of this summer. Take William Hague, whose ham-fisted “nuclear option” statement—designed to quash rumours about his alleged relationship with an adviser named Christopher Myers—was issued without help from the “inner circle” spin team (hence its ham-fistedness). Waspish backbenchers suggest that Hague got little cover not because he’s a “big beast” who can’t be bossed around, but because he’s an outsider. Insiders, they say, are always protected.
By contrast, witness the altogether more fulsome support offered by the prime minister, chancellor and, for that matter, the deputy prime minister, to Andy Coulson. Coulson, the government’s communications director, continues to be dogged by rumours of his involvement in the phone-hacking scandal at his former newspaper, the News of the World. Similarly, several outsiders suspect that strategist Steve Hilton’s position is secure, despite repeated, anonymous and vicious briefings against him, thanks to his closeness to Cameron’s bosom.
All this feeds into a broader conspiracy theory: that the right of the Tory party is methodically being strangled, and that policies as well as personnel are vulnerable. The outsiders are trapped: but whether they are entirely powerless remains to be seen. Watch out for an autumn of escalating internal conflict—and a potentially bitter winter of Tory discontent.
EUROPE
An unlikely triumph for German Greens
Britain’s Greens returned from their Birmingham party conference having been addressed by the first ever Green MP, Caroline Lucas. They may be further cheered by news from across the continent. For in Germany, the Greens are polling a record 17 per cent, according to a survey for ZDF television. Part of this is thanks to Chancellor Angela Merkel’s deeply unpopular move to build new civil nuclear reactors, reversing the previous agreement under Gerhard Schröder to phase out nuclear power. Germany’s 68 Green MPs (ahem!) regard that as the key concession wrung from their seven years of sometimes fractious coalition government with the SDP. In Stuttgart, the Greens—who still go under the clunky post-reunification name of Die Gruene/Bundnis 90—are riding as high as 27 per cent, thanks largely to their opposition to the €4.1bn redevelopment of Stuttgart train station.
Greens opposed to public transport? Indeed. So good is the German train network already that the Greens are chaining themselves to bulldozers outside the 1920s station in a belated bid to stop the station’s demolition. They object to an enormous new project—reckoned to be one of Europe’s largest infrastructure undertakings and already years behind schedule before work even began this year—designed to make Stuttgart the “heart of Europe” by 2021. Given the state of the British railways, is a train-based campaign just what our Greens need to take their parliamentary presence to loftier platforms?
AMERICA
Forget Palin: Beck is the Republican to watch
Glenn Beck, the Fox TV presenter, consistently rated as the most influential of right-wing US commentators, is rumoured to be preparing himself to run for the US presidency in 2012. Beck has denied it—and there are even reports that he has been diagnosed with a potentially disabling eye condition. Yet he’s by far the most ambitious of the right-wing commentators, with a strongly Christian-influenced agenda: he has established a “Beck University,” teaching history and other subjects from a conservative angle. At the end of August he organised a rally at Washington’s Lincoln Memorial boasting 240 clergy from every major religion and calling for America to turn “our face back to the values and principles that made us great.”
Palin has by far the highest profile, for now, but for the smart people in this movement she increasingly looks too flaky. Her personal family story is being laid bare by the father of her grandchild, Levi Johnston, who claims the Palin marriage is in trouble. Beck, by contrast, has a divorce behind him and now a seemingly flawless family life. Indeed, a bid would make more sense than most of what Beck says on air.
The Fed’s flirtation with utter disaster
This September, a small item on the blog The Economics of Contempt made big waves when it pointed out that, were it faced by a money market run in the near future, the US Federal Reserve might be unable to take any action. This is because any emergency lending facility has to be approved by “not less than five members” of the board of governors—which currently boasts only four members. How might such a run happen? Europe’s sovereign debt crisis is far from over—and one can’t dismiss the chances of a medium-sized player, like the Bank of Greece, failing. With US funds heavily exposed to Euro banks, disaster would duly follow. The senate hasn’t even voted on Obama’s three nominees for the Fed board yet—and, while decisions can theoretically be made by fewer than five members, this requires a unanimity that can be extremely hard to achieve. If the Fed isn’t careful, it could be 2008 all over again.
LITERATURE
A limerick for Larkin
To mark the forthcoming publication of Philip Larkin’s letters to his partner, Monica Jones, the poet Michael Horovitz has penned Prospect a miniature review in verse:
In memoriam dear old P.A.L. (1922-1985)
A lonely librarian in Hull Found his life increasingly dull: In poems and letters He unbound his heart’s fetters And now lit mobs feed from his skull.
The enigma of Larsson
Despite having been dead for six years, bestselling Swedish author of the Millennium Trilogy, Stieg Larsson, receives several interview requests per week. Those seeking answers, however, may find fewer than they hoped for in a slender volume entitled Stieg Larsson, My Friend that comes out this October from Quercus. Written by one of Larsson’s closest friends, Kurdo Baksi, the book boasts a commendable lack of speculation. On the connection between Larsson and his creation, Mikael Blomkvist, for instance, Baksi notes that “They are both journalists and work on magazines critical of contemporary society… Apart from that I don’t think there are many similarities.” The observations on geography follow similar lines: “the Stockholm locations are pretty much accurate…the fact that ‘Millennium Walks’ through the Söder district have been a big hit confirm this.” Better stick to the interview requests.
SPORTS
2,000 years ahead of Tiger
Tiger Woods was the first modern athlete to earn $1bn. But according to a recent article in the literary magazine Lapham’s Quarterly, this might have seemed a second-rate sum 2,000 years ago. Gaius Appuleius Diocles, ancient Rome’s most successful charioteer, had career earnings of 35,863,120 sesterces: enough to pay all the ordinary soldiers of the Roman army for almost two months. Peter Struck, a professor of classical studies at the University of Pennsylvania, calculates that by modern standards—paying the wages of the US army for the same period—this would amount to a cool $15bn. Then again, the risks of being stabbed, trampled to death or executed by an angry emperor are lower on a golf course.
What’s coming up
1st October Cyprus celebrates independence day 2nd October Commonwealth games begin in Delhi 3rd October Brazilian presidential and general elections 7th October National poetry day
BRITAIN
Richards on Blair—a case of sympathy for the devil?
In the course of more than ten years as British prime minister, Tony Blair must have accumulated many prized momentos from global grandees. But a source from the Blair-era No 10 whispers to Prospect that Tony’s single most treasured possession is a personal letter from Rolling Stones guitarist Keith Richards in support of the Iraq invasion. “Keep on rockin’ ” was apparently Richards’s advice.
Oh dear. It seems that our former PM never did quite grow out of his college rock band phase, further evidence for which is found in one of the most squirm-making quotes from his memoir, A Journey (reviewed by Prospect editor David Goodhart): “It is true that my head can sometimes think conservatively…but my heart always beats progressive, and my soul is and always will be that of a rebel.” Yuk.
Cold comfort outside Cameron’s magic circle
Ever since he assumed the leadership, there has been a small, loyal and determined “inner circle” around David Cameron which includes George Osborne, a fistful of special advisers and—following the establishment of the coalition—one Nick Clegg.
The purpose of this group is simply to ensure that the Tory party, and now the government, stay in the centre ground. Many senior conservatives naturally feel frozen out—and suspicions over double standards within the coalition have been fuelled by the events of this summer. Take William Hague, whose ham-fisted “nuclear option” statement—designed to quash rumours about his alleged relationship with an adviser named Christopher Myers—was issued without help from the “inner circle” spin team (hence its ham-fistedness). Waspish backbenchers suggest that Hague got little cover not because he’s a “big beast” who can’t be bossed around, but because he’s an outsider. Insiders, they say, are always protected.
By contrast, witness the altogether more fulsome support offered by the prime minister, chancellor and, for that matter, the deputy prime minister, to Andy Coulson. Coulson, the government’s communications director, continues to be dogged by rumours of his involvement in the phone-hacking scandal at his former newspaper, the News of the World. Similarly, several outsiders suspect that strategist Steve Hilton’s position is secure, despite repeated, anonymous and vicious briefings against him, thanks to his closeness to Cameron’s bosom.
All this feeds into a broader conspiracy theory: that the right of the Tory party is methodically being strangled, and that policies as well as personnel are vulnerable. The outsiders are trapped: but whether they are entirely powerless remains to be seen. Watch out for an autumn of escalating internal conflict—and a potentially bitter winter of Tory discontent.
EUROPE
An unlikely triumph for German Greens
Britain’s Greens returned from their Birmingham party conference having been addressed by the first ever Green MP, Caroline Lucas. They may be further cheered by news from across the continent. For in Germany, the Greens are polling a record 17 per cent, according to a survey for ZDF television. Part of this is thanks to Chancellor Angela Merkel’s deeply unpopular move to build new civil nuclear reactors, reversing the previous agreement under Gerhard Schröder to phase out nuclear power. Germany’s 68 Green MPs (ahem!) regard that as the key concession wrung from their seven years of sometimes fractious coalition government with the SDP. In Stuttgart, the Greens—who still go under the clunky post-reunification name of Die Gruene/Bundnis 90—are riding as high as 27 per cent, thanks largely to their opposition to the €4.1bn redevelopment of Stuttgart train station.
Greens opposed to public transport? Indeed. So good is the German train network already that the Greens are chaining themselves to bulldozers outside the 1920s station in a belated bid to stop the station’s demolition. They object to an enormous new project—reckoned to be one of Europe’s largest infrastructure undertakings and already years behind schedule before work even began this year—designed to make Stuttgart the “heart of Europe” by 2021. Given the state of the British railways, is a train-based campaign just what our Greens need to take their parliamentary presence to loftier platforms?
AMERICA
Forget Palin: Beck is the Republican to watch
Glenn Beck, the Fox TV presenter, consistently rated as the most influential of right-wing US commentators, is rumoured to be preparing himself to run for the US presidency in 2012. Beck has denied it—and there are even reports that he has been diagnosed with a potentially disabling eye condition. Yet he’s by far the most ambitious of the right-wing commentators, with a strongly Christian-influenced agenda: he has established a “Beck University,” teaching history and other subjects from a conservative angle. At the end of August he organised a rally at Washington’s Lincoln Memorial boasting 240 clergy from every major religion and calling for America to turn “our face back to the values and principles that made us great.”
Palin has by far the highest profile, for now, but for the smart people in this movement she increasingly looks too flaky. Her personal family story is being laid bare by the father of her grandchild, Levi Johnston, who claims the Palin marriage is in trouble. Beck, by contrast, has a divorce behind him and now a seemingly flawless family life. Indeed, a bid would make more sense than most of what Beck says on air.
The Fed’s flirtation with utter disaster
This September, a small item on the blog The Economics of Contempt made big waves when it pointed out that, were it faced by a money market run in the near future, the US Federal Reserve might be unable to take any action. This is because any emergency lending facility has to be approved by “not less than five members” of the board of governors—which currently boasts only four members. How might such a run happen? Europe’s sovereign debt crisis is far from over—and one can’t dismiss the chances of a medium-sized player, like the Bank of Greece, failing. With US funds heavily exposed to Euro banks, disaster would duly follow. The senate hasn’t even voted on Obama’s three nominees for the Fed board yet—and, while decisions can theoretically be made by fewer than five members, this requires a unanimity that can be extremely hard to achieve. If the Fed isn’t careful, it could be 2008 all over again.
LITERATURE
A limerick for Larkin
To mark the forthcoming publication of Philip Larkin’s letters to his partner, Monica Jones, the poet Michael Horovitz has penned Prospect a miniature review in verse:
In memoriam dear old P.A.L. (1922-1985)
A lonely librarian in Hull Found his life increasingly dull: In poems and letters He unbound his heart’s fetters And now lit mobs feed from his skull.
The enigma of Larsson
Despite having been dead for six years, bestselling Swedish author of the Millennium Trilogy, Stieg Larsson, receives several interview requests per week. Those seeking answers, however, may find fewer than they hoped for in a slender volume entitled Stieg Larsson, My Friend that comes out this October from Quercus. Written by one of Larsson’s closest friends, Kurdo Baksi, the book boasts a commendable lack of speculation. On the connection between Larsson and his creation, Mikael Blomkvist, for instance, Baksi notes that “They are both journalists and work on magazines critical of contemporary society… Apart from that I don’t think there are many similarities.” The observations on geography follow similar lines: “the Stockholm locations are pretty much accurate…the fact that ‘Millennium Walks’ through the Söder district have been a big hit confirm this.” Better stick to the interview requests.
SPORTS
2,000 years ahead of Tiger
Tiger Woods was the first modern athlete to earn $1bn. But according to a recent article in the literary magazine Lapham’s Quarterly, this might have seemed a second-rate sum 2,000 years ago. Gaius Appuleius Diocles, ancient Rome’s most successful charioteer, had career earnings of 35,863,120 sesterces: enough to pay all the ordinary soldiers of the Roman army for almost two months. Peter Struck, a professor of classical studies at the University of Pennsylvania, calculates that by modern standards—paying the wages of the US army for the same period—this would amount to a cool $15bn. Then again, the risks of being stabbed, trampled to death or executed by an angry emperor are lower on a golf course.
What’s coming up
1st October Cyprus celebrates independence day 2nd October Commonwealth games begin in Delhi 3rd October Brazilian presidential and general elections 7th October National poetry day
