It’s time professional people changed their tune: their duty is to support tax systems – not undermine them. Rilly? Just to take an extreme example: the duty of a barrister when defending someone accused of tax offences is to go all Soviet on them? Yes, yes, you’re right, my client is a horrible person who should be locked

The latest issue of the Spectator is out today, and here are my top five features: Nick Clegg takes to the stage. With a hung Parliament looking increasingly likely, I thought we should pay a bit of attention to the Lib Dem leader in this week's issue.  Interviewed by me, he does his best to reach out to Tory voters - pointing to his party's tax-cutting agenda and its spending cut-h...

This blog has been shortlisted for an award. In a very pleasant surprise it's up for a multimedia gong at the Scottish Press Awards. So thanks to everyone who has posted comments, including you "snivelling gimp" man. I heard about that. I'll endeavour to update more regularly.

When it comes to crime, David Cameron is more concerned with headlines than policies. That's why he talks Britain down by deliberately misleading the public about crime figures even though his party has been censured by the Statistics Authority for doing this. The reality is the Conservatives have voted against Labour's measures to fight crime including opposing changes to the retention ...

Iowahawk has delved into Shakespeare and uncovered this little known masterpiece. Enjoy!...

The tax status of donors is not an issue for electoral law. People's tax affairs is a private matter.Harriet Harman, Labour Party hypocrite.

by Yasmin Alibhai-Brown I am but Muslim lite, a non-conformist believer who will not be told what and how by sanctimonious religious sentinels for whom religion is a long list of rules to be obeyed by bovine followers. Readers know I am often critical of Muslim people and nations. Bad things that happen to us cannot all

The Labour Party last night announced that Ian Mearns has been selected as the party's Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for Gateshead. Mr Mearns was chosen after a postal ballot of Labour Party members from across Gateshead constituency. Mr Mearns, aged 52, will succeed Tyne Bridge MP David Clelland as the party’s candidate at the next General Election. Mr Mearns is currently Deputy ...

SULLIVAN: Others, of course, aren't as lucky, and while some play with the bombs because they dont know any better, others Silavon says, see them as a potential source of income. Mr. SILAVON: Villages of people attempt to open to...

The Ashcroft row shows few signs of running out just yet, although the one crumb of comfort David Cameron's team can probably take is that it will likely be a dead issue by the time of any election. Best to get it out of the way now I suppose. Channel 4 News today had got hold of a hitherto unheard of 'top Tory lobbyist' who despairs of the Tory Party. And well he might, although much of the probl...