Robert Buckland: ‘Let asylum seekers work – and pay tax’
Former justice secretary Robert Buckland on the asylum crisis
Is now the time to make peace in Ukraine?
Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February, British press and public opinion has been firmly behind Volodymyr Zelensky. But is…
Sunak drops ‘legal but harmful’ censorship clause
For some time now, The Spectator has been highlighting the danger posed by the so-called Online Safety Bill which would…
Six reasons to be optimistic about a Rishi Sunak premiership
Rishi Sunak now looks set to become prime minister, assuming Penny Mordaunt either doesn’t find 100 MPs to nominate her…
Might Tory MPs refuse to recognise Boris Johnson as PM?
Might Tory MPs refuse to recognisee Boris Johnson as leader if party members choose him? George Osborne raises the prospect…
Penny reign: why Mordaunt is the kingmaker
Tory MPs will likely have three candidates to vote for in Monday’s leadership race: Boris Johnson, Penny Mordaunt and Rishi…
Why Liz Truss had to go
The Liz Truss survival plan was, in the end, unworkable. She not only hired her enemies – Grant Shapps and Jeremy…
Will Jeremy Hunt’s U-turns deepen recession?
Just two weeks ago, Liz Truss told the Tory conference that her priority was ‘growth, growth and growth’. But how…
Why Liz Truss failed
The markets did not crash yesterday, so there was not a Black Friday in the way some had envisaged. But…
Nicola Sturgeon and the politics of hatred
One of the problems with nationalism – of any stripe – is its uglier undercurrents. The Scottish National Party has…
Can Truss repair the damage of her first four weeks?
Soon after being elected Tory leader, Iain Duncan Smith summed up a test that he was soon to fail. ‘At…
Suella Braverman: ‘Brexit isn’t a revolution – it’s a restoration’
Suella Braverman on how her party can recover
Why Penny Mordaunt’s pre-rebellion matters
Another day, another Tory rebellion. Liz Truss needs to think of ways to constrain spending and tough decisions lie ahead.…
Will the Bank of England now move to steady the pound?
After a weekend where the markets digested the Kwasi Kwarteng plan for growth, the pound hit $1.03 in early trading…
The benefits scandal Kwasi Kwarteng should tackle next
I was at an end-of-summer party for the Centre for Social Justice last night, with some politicians and others interested…
The audacity of Kwarteng's tax cut for the rich
George Osborne dreamed about it and Rishi Sunak told friends that he’d like to do it if everything went well…
The King’s speech: six reflections
King Charles III gave us plenty to reflect on with his first speech last night. He spoke movingly about his…
Britain will now enter ten days of mourning
When word of the Queen’s illness spread, the House of Commons quickly emptied. Liz Truss had just announced her fuel…
Why it’s still worth asking questions on lockdown
Rishi Sunak’s interview in last week’s magazine has inspired a lot of comment. Two this week: Lee Cain, ex-No. 10…
The lockdown files: Rishi Sunak on what we weren’t told
Rishi Sunak on the fear messaging — and the questions that weren’t asked
Why Liz Truss is right to say 'forecasts are not destiny'
‘Forecasts are not destiny,’ said Liz Truss in last night’s debate: a remark that has drawn alarm in some quarters. If…
The trouble with Sunak’s tax promise
Rishi Sunak should have started his campaign offering a 4p cut to income tax, instead of focusing on a Cameronesque…
Cold War: Is Germany caving to Putin’s gas blackmail?
After a summit in Tehran yesterday, Putin spoke about the massive Russia to Germany Nord Stream 1 pipeline – currently…
The verdict: the second Tory leadership debate
‘If you’re still watching this debate, well done,’ said Mordaunt, bizarrely, in her closing statement. ‘I wish tonight had been…
Blue murder: the knives are out in the Tory leadership fight
To judge from their campaigns, the leadership contenders are all out of ideas
