Simon Heffer's Blog, page 30

SIMON HEFFER: France, a land tormented by its history as hostility between natives and increasing Muslim population grows

Even before yesterday’s outrage, France was in torment over Islam. Racial tensions have run high for years, and have partly accounted for the rise in popularity of the Front National, the right-wing party that demands adherence to a traditional French cultural identity.

Old Heffer's Almanac 2015: Russell Brand humiliated. Germany quits the euro. And Balmoral confiscated by the Scot Nats

As is traditional at the year's end, Old Heffer brings out his trusty crystal ball.

SIMON HEFFER: Shame on the BBC's Lefties for talking Britain down

The British economy is on a knife-edge. Depending on the course now taken, we can either consolidate the recovery that has already reduced unemployment and strengthened sterling and the stock market, or we can revert to profligacy, recession and a loss of international credibility.

SIMON HEFFER: On your marks - the election starts here

George Osborne didn’t just deliver his autumn financial statement yesterday.

SIMON HEFFER: Why I believe it's inevitable we will have an all-English parliament

The English have been lamentably slow to wake up to the outrageous privileges enjoyed by the Scots since devolution 15 years ago.

My friend may be an arrogant idiot... but he's not evil, by SIMON HEFFER

With alarming fervour, Andrew Mitchell looks his friends in the eye and insists that he did not, on that fateful evening, call a Downing Street policeman a ‘pleb’.

Lionising of a brainless psychopath: Film-makers treated him as a folk hero. And didn't gangland torturer Mad Frankie Fraser, who's died at 90, just love it

Gangland enforcer and torturer Mad Frankie Fraser has died at 90 But his treatment as a folk hero belies his history as thug and psychopath He inspired films that revelled in the pornography of London violence Fraser was caught so often he spent more than half his adult life in...

SIMON HEFFER: Now there's only one way to stop Ed being PM

The truth is that unless David Cameron agrees a deal with Ukip, so as to stop splitting the centre-right vote across the country, Ed Miliband will be prime minister in six months’ time.

SIMON HEFFER: 'Savage cuts'? You ain't seen nothing yet

The hysterical complaints from the Left have not ceased in four years. The Government’s cuts are ‘savage’; they are betraying the poor, cruelly cutting welfare, imposing an unfair ‘bedroom tax’ and slashing public sector jobs.

SIMON HEFFER: Why Dave should pray that Miliband doesn't quit

There will have been cheers in Downing Street at the news that, despite some panic-stricken Labour MPs calling for his resignation, Ed Miliband was staying put as party leader.