Yes, Britain is a Christian country
I can’t say it was a great surprise to read a letter from a group of well-known authors, academics, comedians…
The day I discovered what worry was
Before I had children I don’t think I appreciated what anxiety was. I’d been anxious at various points in my…
The books I couldn't get written
There’s nothing quite so burdensome as having a book to write. Maybe it’s not so bad when it’s your first…
Knowing things isn’t ‘20th century’, Justin Webb. It’s the foundation of a successful life
It’s scarcely possible to open a newspaper or magazine these days without reading an article about how the latest technological…
Lessons from Tina Brown on the art of failing upwards
Shortly after I started working at Vanity Fair in the mid-1990s, I suggested to my boss Graydon Carter that I…
I was all for press freedom. Then I heard from Gary Lineker...
It looks as though Hacked Off has finally won its three-year battle for tighter regulation of the press. Why do…
Death brings out everyone’s inner Mary Whitehouse
Shortly after Bob Crow’s death was announced on Tuesday, Nigel Farage sent the following tweet: ‘Sad at the death of…
Sorry, campaining mums – it’s faith that makes faith schools work
An email popped into my inbox on Tuesday morning urging me to join a ‘fair admissions campaign’ that’s been launched…
What’s happened to Harriet Harman?
Watching Harriet Harman being interviewed by Laura Kuenssberg on Newsnight earlier this week was a strange experience. I felt as…
Playground bullies and the contradiction at the heart of democracy
A new book by a Swedish psychiatrist has just come out that I like the sound of. It’s called How…
Oh no. Have I let my children have too much self-esteem?
Two new books have been published recently on the thorny issue of social mobility, one optimistic, suggesting various things parents…
My battle with Michael Gove’s Blob
Michael Gove has been under fire this week for ‘sacking’ Sally Morgan as chair of Ofsted. You’d think he’d be…
What The Bridge tells us about Scandinavian social democracy – and why it’s not all good news.
This Saturday night I’ll be staying in to watch the final two episodes of The Bridge, the Scandinavian detective series…
Britain's upper class is now too snobbish to speak its name
Last week, YouGov conducted a poll in which people were asked to judge how middle class the party leaders are.…
Want to create the next Mark Zuckerberg? Teach Latin!
I was disappointed to read an article in the Times about a new free school in Hammersmith being proposed by…
Toby Young: Why I'm giving up drinking. And chocolate. And ice cream...
I’ve gone completely overboard with New Year’s Resolutions this year. I’ve sworn off three illicit substances — alcohol, chocolate and…
Toby Young: Join my campaign to save the country
This is going to be the year I do my Flash Gordon routine and launch a campaign to save the…
Toby Young: The surprising lesson of my old friends - middle age makes you nicer
When I first suggested to my closest male friends that we have a boys’ Christmas lunch, it didn’t occur to…
Toby Young: Nobody appreciates you sending Christmas cards of your children's 'art'
I’ve just had a massive row with Caroline about Christmas cards. We usually send about 120 and this year we’ve…
Toby Young: Why I'm not going to be an MP
Damn and blast. I was quite keen on becoming the Conservative candidate for Hammersmith, but the timing isn’t going to…
My life as a litter monitor
The think tank Policy Exchange has just published an excellent report on Britain’s urban green spaces called ‘Park Land’. The…
Toby Young: Tristram Hunt, the Spectator's 'Newcomer of the Year'?
I love The Spectator’s Parliamentarian of the Year Awards. On the face of it, they’re a great advertisement for just…
Fighting dirty
Why is local politics so much dirtier than national politics? Is it because the players are fighting over relatively trivial…
Toby Young: Please, Boris, don't allow a Waitrose in my neighbourhood
Five years ago I joined forces with some local worthies to object to the opening of a strip joint on…
Toby Young: It's biological, I become a caveman when my child is sick
The first sign that something was wrong with Ludo was when he complained of a tummy ache. This was after…
