Norman Baker, Lib Dem MP for Lewes, has just made Lewes DC’s ridiculous campaign against Falmer Stadium even more ridiculous. Apparently, because John Prescott has gone to see his team (Hull) play at Withdean, and has been given lunch by the directors, he should now recuse himself from every

and prosper all our plans for 2006.

John Lewis has reported a sharp increase in sales in December. Since organisations like the National Association Against Tolls (as well as the Evening Standard) are always claiming that the congestion charge is responsible for recent falls in Oxford Street trading, presumably they’ll now say its continued existence is

The House passes a stern anti-immigrant bill, and it’s hasta la vista, melting pot. The New York Times reports.

BBC News reports on a new war starting in north east Africa.

Ross McKibbin has a choleric article in this week’s London Review of Books, complaining about the right deviation that is the current Government. Most of it is unremarkable stuff – government too friendly with business, right-wing government, Cameron even worse, etc. The only part that really made me sit up

Slate’s Andrew Santella reminds us of the years when parts of colonial America did in fact ban Christmas celebrations.