Author Archives: Simon Hoggart
Preparation ‘haytch’: Justine Greening gives high-speed train a Dickensian feel
The transport secretary’s pronunciation of HS2 follows a political tradition of not listening to what you are saying or how you soundCharles Dickens’s birthday is next month, and let’s hope the Commons remembers him properly. He worked for Hansard, and… Continue reading
Simon Hoggart’s week: Mona Lisa of Cracow steals the show
From an unsung Leonardo masterpiece at the National Gallery to memories of the enthralling world of Ronald Searle✒We went to the Leonardo exhibition at the National Gallery this week, and they’ve done an excellent job getting together a display of 80… Continue reading
Simon Hoggart’s week: Reagan’s law of keeping your chin up
The political currency of hope and how Václav Havel still wanted to conjugate verbs in the midst of a diplomatic crisis✒”Optimism can defeat despair,” said Ed Miliband in his new year message. This is the Pollyanna, Pangloss, “pull your socks up” sc… Continue reading
Simon Hoggart’s week: playing your cards right at Christmas
When size speaks louder than words, Christmas round robins – and has Piers Morgan been drinking the waters of oblivion?✒I love Christmas cards and actually look forward to the postman’s visit – usually when it’s getting dark, these days. There is… Continue reading
Close to the bone: what’s a little morbid fascination between colleagues?
Nick Clegg bats aside Peter Bone’s question about what would happen ‘if the prime minister was killed in a terrorist attack’Peter Bone, the Tory MP for Wellingborough, is a cadaverous looking fellow. He has a very slight resemblance to the late Boris K… Continue reading
Nick Clegg offered lots of stollen – but little mention of the marzipan ceiling
Deputy prime minister’s much-awaited savage attack on David Cameron failed to materialise during his open society speechWe gathered in Westminster to hear Nick Clegg’s speech, which was billed as an attack on David Cameron and the Tories. No sign of th… Continue reading
Simon Hoggart’s week: Christopher Hitchens: monster and turnip
Memories of the ‘contrarian’ who left his wife, betrayed a close friend – and wrote more than most people have read✒To come to the point, Christopher Hitchens could be a monster. He left his first wife while she was pregnant. He betrayed his close … Continue reading
MPs test examination boards
The chief examiner at the much criticised WJEC exam board didn’t so much give evidence as download a stream of random factsIt’s all a matter of context, as any critic who has written “it is amazing that this dire apology for a play should have made it … Continue reading
Prime minister’s questions – or an unpleasant football match? | Simon Hoggart
As youth unemployment reaches new horrible levels, members of House of Commons are busy trying to trump each other firstPrime minister’s questions is increasingly like an unpleasant football match, in which the game played publicly is accompanied by al… Continue reading
Ed Miliband and the curse of the Guardian crossword | Simon Hoggart
The Labour leader’s speech was far from straightforward and his message far from simpleIt was Ed Miliband’s relaunch. He was going to clear away all the mistakes of the past, to make space for the new mistakes of the future! But the auguries were bad. … Continue reading »