Journalist

The Scotsman' is a cheerleader for devolution.

I read more bloggers now than mainstream columnists, because they've got more interesting things to say.

As one of the grammar-school generation, I grew up as part of a postwar meritocracy that steadily infiltrated the citadels of power.

I'm not arguing for a return to the grammar school system, but there must be a way of identifying bright kids from ordinary backgrounds and giving them a world-class education.

I haven't got a family. I live to work.

Britain is now living with the consequences of allowing an underclass to take root and fester.

Americans have this patrician attitude that they have a God-given right to produce these boring newspapers and not be challenged to do it. 'The New York Times' really thinks it's the BBC.

When you have variety, you have freedom.

No one can be in any doubt that Britain is becoming more like Europe, though few in an increasingly economically illiterate media seem to realise it.

The Sunday paper is an odd British cultural tradition.

Many U.S. Sunday papers are monopolies, and their contents can be an extension of the daily.

If 'Spectator Business' works, we will continue this brand extension strategy and look at everything from 'Spectator Arts' to 'Spectator Style and Travel' or 'Spectator Connoisseur.'

When I was growing up the obvious antisemites were the knuckle-draggers in the National Front.

I travelled through the night in a bus with the Kentucky Tea Party en route to a massive rally in Washington. For the most part I found them decent, self-reliant, regular Americans who feared the American Dream was now over, not just for them but for their children and grandchildren.

I get nervous if the bath is too deep.

Britain's great postwar meritocratic experiment was broad-based, but it was in politics that the change was most dramatic.

Not all Republicans in the class of 2010 owe their seats to the Tea Party. But many do.

Now, I bow to nobody when it comes to estimating the influence of 'This Week.'

You don't really appreciate how much you are going to miss your parents. I keep thinking of all the times I should have made the effort to go up and see them but didn't.

There's even less to do in Umea at Christmas than there is in Stockholm.