Letters
Flood relief Sir: In my lifetime there have been at least two major flood emergencies when the armed forces have…
Portrait of the week
Home Sajid Javid, the Health Secretary, said that the Omicron variant of coronavirus was spreading by community transmission in ‘multiple…
Solution to 2533: Monday’s child
‘From harmony, from heavenly harmony, this universal frame began’ opens JOHN DRYDEN’s Song for ST CECILIA’S DAY (22 November, a…
The decay at the heart of the civil service
That Britain no longer has the capability to maintain peace in Afghanistan other than as an appendage of the United…
Portrait of the week
Home In a nervous response to the entry into Britain of the Omicron variant of Covid-19 — B.1.1.529 — the…
Solution to: 2532: Patchy?
The unclued lights are TV detectives and their PATCH: 10/8, 13/5D, 15/39, 26/41, 36/33. First prize Emma Corke, Abinger Hammer,…
Barometer
Thirsty work Sixty-one pub-goers on a night out in the Tan Hill Inn, 1,500 feet up in the Pennines in…
Salvation army
Last week, the government published its blueprint for how it intends to remodel the army. According to the plan, it…
Letters
The Waitrose test Sir: Like Rod Liddle, I live in the north-east of England — a little further north and…
The cost of Boris
Earlier this week, the Conservative party sent an appeal to its registered supporters asking them to become members. ‘We’re delivering…
Barometer
Red Peppa? In a rambling speech to the CBI, Boris Johnson praised Peppa Pig. Has she changed political sides? Peppa…
Letters
Peace project Sir: It was heartening to read your editorial on the peace which has reigned in Europe since 1945,…
Portrait of the week
Home Boris Johnson, the Prime Minister, praised Peppa Pig in a speech to the Confederation of British Industry: ‘Who would’ve…
Solution To 2531: Villainy
The unclued lights are VILLAINS encountered by James Bond. First prize Ian Skillen, Cambuslang, Glasgow Runners-up Liz Knights, Walton Highway,…
Asylum isn’t working
Emad Al Swealmeen, who blew himself up in a taxi outside the Liverpool Women’s Hospital, is not believed to have…
Barometer
Shell out Royal Dutch Shell announced that it is to move its HQ to London and become a fully British…
Letters
Balance of power Sir: Ross Clark sums up the problem with wind power (‘Storing up trouble’, 13 November). It is…
Portrait of the week
Home The UK terror threat level was raised to severe after a taxi exploded and burst into flames just before…
Books of the year II
A further selection of the books enjoyed by some of our regular reviewers in 2021
Solution to 2530: Ups and downs
The quotation is ‘LAUGH, AND THE WORLD LAUGHS WITH YOU; WEEP, AND YOU WEEP ALONE’ from Solitude by Ella Wheeler…
Portrait of the week
Home NHS staff in England will have to be fully vaccinated against Covid by the spring. Britain had ordered 250,000…
Letters
Heat Sir: May I place some of Nigel Lawson’s comments in a sensible historical context (‘Stupid fuels’, 6 November)? First,…
Solution to 2529: Formerly
Each of the unclued lights can be preceded by OLD. First prize Heather McLaren, Seaford, East Sussex Runners-up Rupert Cousens,…
Acts of remembrance
On the advice of doctors, Queen Elizabeth II will not attend this year’s Festival of Remembrance at the Albert Hall.…
BOOKS OF THE YEAR I
Reviewers choose the books they have most enjoyed reading in 2021 — and a few that have disappointed them
