UR TV CAST

One fighter was shot down near Baghdad, another near Mosul, a third at Akhtar Rashid, a fourth in the Taji district, another in Basra. Yet it will be an irony if Britain’s involvement in a Palestinian peace process, a long-desired goal of the EU and the British Europhiles, will also complete the destruction of Mr Blair’s European credentials
More from Bruce Anderson. Even if it means snubbing the EU, he will have to assist the Americans. Any European involvement would only antagonise the Americans and would be exploited by Israeli irreconcilables. The US will be determined to exclude it.The Bush administration is now ready to override many of its visceral instincts and to pursue the goal of a Palestinian state. Britain could play an important role in this, but only on our own. If we came as part of an EU package, we would be disregarded in Washington.

I am not referring to the Israelis and Palestinians; over time, their disagreements could be reconciled. I do think it’s extraordinary environmental vandalism to put wind-power stations on top of unspoilt hills, desecrating the line of landscape for no purpose whatsoever It’s intermittent electricity. publicity hound.”Next, Ken Clarke, whom I confide I’ve always had a soft spot for “Everybody has a soft spot for Ken Clarke. If only he could have discovered a trace element of Euroscepticism he could have been leader of the Tory Party. One must admit he’s an honourable and principled man, however wrong.” Apropos of absolutely nothing, I enjoy his description of the Lib Dems. “A remarkably flexible party,” he says, “always tailored to local requirements.”In his retirement, he’s not exactly under-employed The books The journalism The broadcasting The moss war The after-dinner speaking.

“My record is 123 prepared talks in one year.” President of the British Franchise Association, and then a list of other positions, each more deliciously right-wing and politically incorrect than the last.Here goes: secretary of Supporters For Nuclear Energy, “which will endear me to many of your readers, I’m sure”. I was astounded he had it in him, although nothing surprises me about Edwina Currie who seems a wonderful… Whatever, it means he will answer a direct question, however vulgar and clumsy, directly. So, Sir Bernard, did you ever suspect Mr Major was having it off with Ms Currie? “Never had an inkling Neither did Margaret I found it very difficult to believe of John. That he’s always been more spinned against than spinning? Whatever, there is a kind of un-Millbank, brutal honesty to him which, I suppose, some would say he can afford, now he’s 70 and retired; but, then again, it might just be his style anyway.

(“Bunkum and balderdash!”) He was, he will say, an impartial civil servant (he worked for Tony Benn and Barbara Castle before Thatcher) and not a party apparatchik ?a Alastair Campbell He never leaked He never dictated the running order of stories He did not browbeat journalists. Hmph!”Many, actually, regard Sir Bernard as Britain’s first ever spin doctor, which is something he always denies quite hotly. “Probably, there were more people at football matches that weekend than there were demonstrating Not probably I’m definitely certain there were I’ve never thought much of marches. But I’m the first to admit that he would carry greater conviction if, in my view, he had not capitulated all along to Irish terrorism. It all contrasts very sharply with his domestic approach, which has been ultra-cautious and a failure.” Do you admire him? “I admire his conviction and commitment to a just and reasonable cause. OK, what would Mrs Thatcher make of this war business? “She wanted to finish it the last time, but she wasn’t prime minister John Major was.