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The new C-Class. Outclasses its rivals. Yours from £339 per month*. What Car? called it “the brilliant new C-Class” and went on to say “faster, classier, cheaper: Mercedes outpoints BMW3 Series.” We couldn’t have put it better ourselves.

*For business users only. Advance payment and fee applies.

O cial government fuel consumption figures in mpg (litres per 100km) for the new C-Class range: urban 30.4 (9.3)-50.4(5.6), extra urban 52.3 (5.4) -76.3 (3.7), combined 41.5(6.8) -64.2(4.4). CO2 emissions: 176-117g/km. Model shown is a Mercedes-Benz C 220 CDI BlueEFFICIENCYSE Saloon with manual transmission at £28,515.00 on-the-road including optional metallic paint at £645.00

(on - the - road prices include VAT, delivery, 12 months’ Road Fund Licence, number plates, first registration fee and fuel). *Finance example based on a Mercedes-Benz C 220 CDI BlueEFFICIENCY SE Saloon (manual) on a 36 month (6+35 profile) Mercedes-Benz Operating Lease agreement, excluding maintenance. Advance rental of £2,034.00. All payments subject to VAT. A £180.00 acceptance fee is payable in addition to and at the same time as the advance rental. Based on 10,000 miles per annum. Excess mileage charges may apply. Rental includes first year’s Road Fund Licence only. Written quotations available on request, including alternative contract lengths and mileages. Credit provided subject to status by Mercedes-Benz Financial Services UK Limited, MK7 8ND. Guarantees and indemnities may be required. This finance offer is available on C-Class Saloon models ordered/credit approved between 1 April and 30 September and registered by 31 December 2011 excluding Model Year 801, AMG and special request engines. Offers cannot be used in conjunction with any other published offer from the Retailer. Offer subject to availability. Terms and conditions apply. Prices correct at time of going to press (04/11). What Car? April, 2011. Visit mercedes-benz.co.uk/offers If the rioters don’t get you,

the regulators will, p30

What-ho, Watteau, p41

3 Leading article 7 Portrait of the Week 9 Diary Jenny McCartney 10 Politics James Forsyth 11 The Spectator’s Notes 14 Barometer 16 Rod Liddle 25 Matthew Parris 26 James Delingpole 28 Letters 30 Any other business Martin Vander Weyer 60 Chess Raymond Keene 61 Competition;Crossword 62 Status anxiety Toby Young Dave Michael Heath 63 Sport Roger Alton Your problems solved Mary Killen

12 Oxford under siege Universities are being driven private

Ivor Roberts …but they should just take the plunge Ross Clark 14 Adultery rewarded

The case against a Queen Camilla Melanie McDonagh 19 Pearl without price

The saving of Durham’s Zurbarans Charles Moore 20 Legitimate question Japan’s culture of marriage

James Bartholomew 22 Playing the heavy An interview with Eric Pickles

James Forsyth Boks 32 Sam Leith A Man of Parts, by

David Lodge 34 Peter Parker The Morville Year,

by Katherine Swift Joanna Kavenna Venetian

Navigators, by Andrea di Robilant 35 Frederic Raphael Stranger from

Abroad, by Daniel Meier-Katkin 36 Ian Thomson Imajine, by

Claudel Casseus 37 Byron Rogers Behind the

Black Door, by Sarah Brown Bookends Edward King

Arts 39 Interview Tom Conti Mary Wakefield 40 Music Damian Thompson 41 Exhibitions Watteau: The Drawings;

Life, Legend, Landscape: Victorian Paintings and Watercolours Andrew Lambirth 42 Opera Kommilitonen!; The Return of Ulysses; The Three Pintos Michael Tanner 43 Theatre The Knot of the Heart;

Remembrance Day Lloyd Evans 45 Cinema Oranges and Sunshine

Deborah Ross 46 Dance The Most Incredible Thing

Giannandrea Poesio 48 Radio Kate Chisholm 49 Television Simon Hoggart Culture notes Ed Rex Life 55 High life Taki 57 Low life Jeremy Clarke Real life Melissa Kite 58 Motoring Alan Judd 59 The turf Robin Oakley Bridge Janet de Botton

Cover by Morten Morland Drawings by Michael Heath, Castro, Holland Bernie, Nick Newman, Geoff Thompson, Adam Singleton, Wilbur, McLachlan, Len Hawkins, Z, RR, Dorrance and RGJ www.spectator.co.uk To subscribe to The Spectator for £104 a year, turn to page 28 Editorial and advertising The Spectator, 22 Old Queen Street, London SW1H 9HP, Tel: 020 7961 0200, Fax: 020 7961 0250, Email: editor@spectator.co.uk (editorial); letters@spectator.co.uk (for publication); advertising@spectator. co.uk (advertising); Advertising enquiries: 020 7961 0219 Advertising fax: 020 7961 0020 Spectator Luxury and Style If you are an overseas reader and would like a copy of Spectator Luxury and Style, please email spectator@servicehelpline.co.uk with your name and address and subscriber reference if appropriate Subscription and delivery queries Spectator Subscriptions Dept., 800 Guillat Avenue, Kent Science Park, Sittingbourne ME9 8GU; Tel: 01795 592886 Fax: 0870 220 0290; Email: spectator@servicehelpline.co.uk Newsagent queries Spectator Circulation Dept, 22 Old Queen Street, London SW1H 9HP, Tel: 020 7961 0200, Fax: 020 7961 0057, Email: dstam@spectator.co.uk Distributor COMAG Specialist, Tavistock Works, Tavistock Road, West Drayton, Middlesex UB7 7QX Vol 315; no 9527 © The Spectator (1828) Ltd. ISSN 0038-6952 The Spectator is published weekly by The Spectator (1828) Ltd at 22 Old Queen Street, London SW1H 9HP Editor: Fraser Nelson the spectator | 2 April 2011 | www.spectator.co.uk

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