Tim Worstall

So when parts of the UK were flooded last year it seemed sensible for the UK government to make an appeal to the fund. The government at first seemed reticent to ask for money, but after efforts from Richard Corbett MEP, Denis MacShane and others the request was made, and £110 million cash granted.
Perhaps there […]

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At the B
Telling Nanny to sod off and banning bankers’ bonuses.

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While she is at least being inventive, I don’t think she’s quite grasped the major problem here.

James Lloyd of the International Longevity Centre has produced an ingenious social insurance scheme the Department of Health is studying with enthusiasm. The joy of this scheme is that it is voluntary: payment only applies to the over-65s, when […]

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He lays out his stall and reminds me why I am a classical liberal, not a centre left one (as he desscribes himself).

The condition of Britain demands not more individualism but greater collective identity and action. From Northern Rock and the credit crunch to the anxiety and insecurity of failing markets in housing, pensions and […]

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A bad weekend in France for drink driving deaths, so a Minister leaps to make suggestions:

"I am going to introduce a decree in cabinet under which all drink outlets that stay open till two in the morning will have compulsory electronic breath-tests, so that everyone can test his own […]

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Last time there was a move in the Commons to make abortion law more restrictive, it actually become looser. Yes, the limit was lowered from 28 weeks to 24 weeks, but an exception was made for either deformity to the child of danger to the mother. In those cases abortion could happen up to full […]

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Here.

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At the B.
Russian style business and how to sue Wikipedia.
 

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Gosh, more MEPs on the fiddle.

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Clearly, she wrote it herself then.

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Labour is persisting with a high-risk strategy of class warfare in Crewe & Nantwich in a desperate attempt to avoid losing the by-election and further destabilising Gordon Brown’s troubled leadership.
Labour leaflets distributed over the weekend showed Edward Timpson, the Conservative candidate, standing outside Crewe station with a top hat digitally superimposed on his head. It […]

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Sounds like an interesting new author:

Midnight’s Children is up for a third honour as Irish Murdoch, William Golding and Kingsley Amis are left off the list.

Philosophical and academic novels set in Limerick slums perhaps?

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You know this argument that she regularly trots out? That we’re all rabid lefties really, concerned with equality, relative poverty, egalitarianism and the rest, we’re just mislead by those rapacious press barons who thrust vilely right wing opinions down our throats?
That PollyLand is what we really desire, we’re just suffering from false consciousness brought on […]

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Does anyone actually know the answer?
Starting here.
Via email I am told that:

What’s it like being a total, and I mean TOTAL  asshole?
 
 
Most EU residents have their deposit accounts in Euros, you dumb schmuck. Hoo boy, and they let you vote. Furthermore, you jerk, most interest earned by EU residents in Switzerland is from bonds, mostly […]

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So, we get a barnstorming column from Jackie Ashley (Mrs. Andrew Marr) about how appallingly the Pentagon manipulated the press over the Iraq war.

If business correspondents want star access, they have to mind their language and treat the City barons with deference and respect. They, not the military or the Ministry of Defence, are the […]

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I think Phillip Johnston might have nailed it here.

A valedictory report on the project said: "The National Identity Register proposed as part of the Home Office Identity Cards Programme will deliver many of the CIP benefits… by effectively acting as the UK adult population register."
Shorn of much of its security paraphernalia, that is what the […]

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Hmm, global slump coming. Not that he’s ever been optimistic mind, but this does seem exceptionally gloomy. But you pick your pundit and believe who you wish at this point really. One point:

The Bush rescue package - $800 in rebate cheques per household - has been rendered null and void by the latest spike.

I really […]

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At the GI.
Peru has thrown out the high tariff barriers, recognised the importance of property rights: and is growing at 6% a year. Hurrah!

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At the ASI.
Stephen Byers has a good idea: but don’t worry, he’s also got two bad ones.

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Yes, really, defending Peter Mandelson.

The face of the European Commissioner for Trade now adorns thousands of placards and "Stop Mandelson" posters as Irish opposition to the EU treaty grows ahead of a referendum next month.
Irish farmers and No campaigners have claimed that world trade negotiations for the EU, conducted by Mr Mandelson, would slash farm […]

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