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Our business began life in 1710 with the establishment of the Sun Fire Office. And this year, as we celebrate our 300th anniversar y, we are believed to be among the world’s oldest insurers. The principle that drove us to succeed in the embers of the Great Fire of London is the same one that drives us today: an unshakable belief that insurance should enable progress. From the epic to the ever yday, we continue to help the world’s people and businesses move forward. To learn more, visit RSA300.com Contents Contents Contents Contents the week Leading article

Portrait of the Week

Diary Norman Stone

Politics James Forsyth

Dave Michael Heath

Letters

Another voice Matthew Parris

Diary of a Notting Hill Nobody

Any other business Martin Vander Weyer

Mind your language

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Books Bevis Hillier: The Oxford Book of Parodies, edited by John Gross 32 Jeremy Clarke: Taki, edited by Charles Glass 34 Byron Rogers: The Cigarette Book, by Fletcher Watkins and Chris Harrald 35 Alexander Masters: In Flight Entertainment, by Helen Simpson 36 Julian Stannard: ‘Furthest, Fairest Things’: a poem 36 Tom Holland: Carthage Must Be Destroyed, by Richard Miles 36 Charlotte Moore: The Birth of Love, by Joanna Kavenna 37 Michael Burleigh: The Last Dance, by Denys Blakeway 38 Francis King: The Garden of Erses, by Jeff Chaucer 40 John H. Davies: ‘Chinese Whispers’: a poem 40 Blair Worden: Pirates of Barbary, by Adrian Tinniswood 41 Penelope Lively: The Return of Captain John Emmett, by Elizabeth Speller 42 Tobias Hill on the Lost Man Booker Prize 42

Arts

William Cook looks to the future of satire in the new political landscape 44

Must try harder, Boris Mira Bar-Hillel The London Mayor’s half-term report

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‘It’s a fight to the death here’ Robert Beaumont The Lib-Con love-in doesn’t reach North Yorkshire 17

Not so special any more John C. Hulsman How close do the Prime Minister and President want to be? 18

Cameron’s Clause 4 moment David Lammy 18

The voice of the Tory beehive Fraser Nelson Dave must convince backbenchers like Graham Brady

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Why stitch up Lord Triesman? Rod Liddle And why the Mail on Sunday will get away with it

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‘I never talk to anybody’ Tanya Gold An interview with Sir Ben Kingsley

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China’s parents begin to rebel Brendan O’Neill It is British greens who support the one-child policy 25

Exhibitions: William Crozier at 80; Agnes Martin Andrew Lambirth 47 Opera: La Traviata Michael Tanner 49 Architecture: The Three Classicists Alan Powers 50 Music Peter Phillips 51 Theatre: A Thousand Stars Explode in the Sky; Counting the Ways Lloyd Evans 51 Cinema: Bad Lieutentant: Port of Call — New Orleans Deborah Ross 52 Television Simon Hoggart 53 Radio Kate Chisholm 53

Life

Gardens

Ursula Buchan

High life

Taki

Low life Jeremy Clarke

Real life Melissa Kite

Bridge Janet de Botton

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Cover by Stephen Collins. Drawings by Michael Heath, Castro, K.J. Lamb, Hawker, Paul Wood, Nick Downes, Stephen Garrett, Geoff Thompson, Grizelda, Adam Singleton, Bernie, Holland and Donohue.

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Vol 313; no 9482 © 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 trAveL

Broaden your mind Charlotte Metcalf

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Music is the food of love Roderick Gilchrist 59 A grand tour Catherine Nixey 60 At work and play Robin Lane Fox 63

And finALLy . . .

Chess Raymond Keene

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Competition; Crossword 64, 65 Status anxiety Toby Young 70 The Wiki man Rory Sutherland 71 Your problems solved Mary Killen 71

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THE SPECTATOR 22 May 2010 7