Simon Hoggart

Until now their line has been that the Tories are incapable of doing anything about poverty, and aren't interested in doing it…

— Simon Hoggart

All over the U.S. there are people whose lives are being destroyed for lack of proper health care provision, and there is…

— Simon Hoggart

Switzerland still has a huge share of the watch market, all advertised at the airport on illuminated hoardings. Gosh, they are ugly.

— Simon Hoggart

There are few tribes more loathsome than the American Right, and their vicious use of the shortcomings in the NHS to attack…

— Simon Hoggart

Most successful American politicians look well-fed on endorsements, campaign contributions and chicken dinners.

— Simon Hoggart

A married vicar is likely to regard his vocation as a job - a tough and ill-paid one, to be sure -…

— Simon Hoggart

When you actually see Barack Obama, it's startling how slight he is and how young he looks.

— Simon Hoggart

I've been intrigued by 'Le Monde' ever since work took me to Paris once, and I noted that on a day when…

— Simon Hoggart

Some government expenditure actually makes a profit. Our theatre leads the world. Loads of tourists must be attracted by the fact that…

— Simon Hoggart

When I was collecting material for a political gossip column, and someone said something interesting, I would wait for them to add,…

— Simon Hoggart

What has always puzzled me is the flexibility of God's word. For instance, Catholics can now eat meat on Fridays. And limbo…

— Simon Hoggart

The British are the last national group who can be insulted by Hollywood without any comeback. These days if you depict Italians…

— Simon Hoggart

She is the first head of government in history to give a whole country its second childhood.

— Simon Hoggart

To be fair to the Inquisition, they only used confessions extracted after the torture had ended, which let them claim that admissions…

— Simon Hoggart

I know of no wars started by anyone to impose lack of religion on someone else.

— Simon Hoggart

My colleague Bill Keegan has written a very short book ('Saving the World?') on an unlikely topic - he is the first…

— Simon Hoggart

I also learned to play Fruit Ninja on an iPad. It is quite hypnotic, and I hope one day to get past…

— Simon Hoggart

Denis Healey refused to contribute an article to the 'Guardian' about his intentions, and was punished by the electorate - and then…

— Simon Hoggart

The formal Washington dinner party has all the spontaneity of a Japanese imperial funeral.

— Simon Hoggart

Remember how Margaret Thatcher came to believe that abroad was more important than at home? Didn't do her much good.

— Simon Hoggart

We all have our opinions. But I suspect that writers are actually less worth heeding, because they regard themselves as so uniquely…

— Simon Hoggart

During my own gap year, I learned an invaluable lesson - that I was a lousy teacher. Even though the children I…

— Simon Hoggart

Living in New York is like being at some terrible late-night party. You're tired, you've had a headache since you arrived, but…

— Simon Hoggart

I cannot be alone in being pretty nauseated by Red Nose Day, or at least its television manifestation. Do I think that…

— Simon Hoggart

Kind 'Guardian' readers have been forwarding me round robin Christmas newsletters for years now: lengthy missives full of perfect children, exotic holidays,…

— Simon Hoggart