The Telegraph sacked Damian Thompson 10 years ago, so I have no remaining animus towards it. But I am enjoying the communications from so many of you about its potential acquisition. What a waspish place media London is. I mean, it has nothing on a Durham Senior Common Room, but you could say that about anywhere.
So far, my personal favourite is that the Government, which was given the last word on these previously independent matters when the last lot wanted to stop the sale to what we are now expected to regard as the soul of moderation in the Middle East, should complete its triumph by handing over its vanquished foe's house journal to either or both of the Tony Blair Institute and the Clinton Foundation.
As long as it kept up the hats and horses, then the Telegraph would retain such readership as it still had, readers who would be unable to tell any difference on the comment pages. Centrism and right-wing populism, not that Telegraph types would appreciate being so described, are con tricks to sell exactly the same economic and foreign policies to different audiences by pretending to wage a culture war.
But that pretence must also be kept up. On the first full day of the Conservative Leadership Election in the country at large, the threshold for a vote of no confidence among the MPs had to be doubled, although 36 is still only one fewer than James Cleverly's final total. Dozens of MPs will abstain in the all-members' ballot. Several have placed bets on a Cleverly Leadership in this Parliament, although never take your eye off Jeremy Hunt, either. Hunt held his seat by only 891 votes, and, as in Cleverly's, second place did not go to Reform UK, most of whose second places are to Labour. Reform is the least of the Conservatives' worries. When it is hit hard in the next couple of years, as it will be, then that will not come from the mere Opposition.
“Reform UK, most of whose second places are to Labour”
ReplyDeleteThat’s right-it split the Tory vote thus letting Labour in. The pollsters say in doing so it cost the Tories over 80 seats at the election.
You can’t tell the difference between the comment pages of the Telegraph and Guardian? can’t think of one major issue they agree on.
I have seen distinguished journalists from first world, English-speaking countries play and lose that game. Unless you can tell every subtle little class indicator, as people who grew up here can even without knowing that we are doing it, then you will never be able to spot the difference among the London broadsheets. Immensely sophisticated native Anglophones cannot.
DeleteYou have also never met the right-wing hacks if they think that they mean what they are saying on social and cultural issues. Unlike the Guardian lot, heaven help all concerned, they almost never really do. In fact, the Guardian lot tend to lead much more conventional lives than what is ostensibly the other side.
And then there is the ease with which people move between these publications. Honestly, you do not know that you are born.
Let's just say the Spectator Summer Party and leave it at that.
ReplyDeleteBritain's governing party, the Spectator Summer Party. Centrists and all points right, but no one else. If you are on that guest list, then you are not on the Left.
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