Columnists
An age of bright new lights on ugly new estates
‘Trying to determine what is going on in the world by reading newspapers,’ remarked the journalist and screenwriter Ben Hecht,…
May’s big chance
It is the fate of all new prime ministers to be compared with their recent predecessors. Theresa May has already…
My poster girl for free speech
Now is the time of year to take down the Christmas decorations from your front window and put up, in…
In our virtual future, why would anyone work?
A flash of the future, over the holidays, that felt like a flash of the past. It happened on Christmas…
Markets start the year strong while Italy totters towards the next crisis
The headline business story of the holiday season was the latest bailout of Banca Monte dei Paschi di Siena. This…
The Spectator’s Notes
‘My deep concern is that because of changed ways that news is now gathered, collated, packaged, delivered and displayed, the…
May’s big chance
It is the fate of all new prime ministers to be compared with their recent predecessors. Theresa May has already…
My poster girl for free speech
Now is the time of year to take down the Christmas decorations from your front window and put up, in…
Will disgruntlement prevail again in 2017? Who knows, but at least 2016 was quite fun
Most of my predictions for 2016 were wrong; so let’s not revisit them. But I was right, in January, to…
2017 will be one long vampire scream from the liberal elite
I’ve been looking at my predictions for 2016 made this time last year. It’s extraordinary — don’t check, just trust…
Will disgruntlement prevail again in 2017? Who knows, but at least 2016 was quite fun
Most of my predictions for 2016 were wrong; so let’s not revisit them. But I was right, in January, to…
I was right about 2016. So here’s what happens next
I’ve been looking at my predictions for 2016 made this time last year. It’s extraordinary — don’t check, just trust…
Why I was ashamed to love Status Quo
I bought a record in a second-hand shop in the summer of 1981. A double album. I made sure nobody…
Why I was ashamed to love Status Quo
I bought a record in a second-hand shop in the summer of 1981. A double album. I made sure nobody…
Whatever happened to Sir George? A festive finale for an eventful year
Many (well, several) of you asked me what happened to George, the supermarket chairman who was the anti-hero of my…
How to put a positive spin on the bizarre events of this year
This is going to be a positive, optimistic column. I promise. Because, look, let’s be honest, I’ve been a bit…
Don’t try to be liked, and buy your steak at Aldi – the lessons I’ve learned in 2016
Merry Christmas everyone. Here are some things I learned — or relearned — in 2016. 1. That which does…
Why I’m telling my son about the sky fairy
After we were married, my husband and I went on honeymoon to Mexico. We drove across country east to west,…
A year of revolution
Few years will live as long in the memory as 2016. Historians will ponder the meaning and consequences of the…
Rock’s quiet right-wingers
They will be sitting there right now, listening tearfully to the song for one last time on their dinky little…
The Spectator’s Notes
‘Are you Charles Moore of The Spectator?’ I answered to that description. ‘Well,’ said my questioner, ‘I am worried that you’re…
The one thing that really gets better with age
On the London Underground last week the carriage was crowded. No seat. No problem. I’m only 67 and content to…
Whatever happened to Sir George? A festive finale for an eventful year
Many (well, several) of you asked me what happened to George, the supermarket chairman who was the anti-hero of my…
How to put a positive spin on the bizarre events of this year
This is going to be a positive, optimistic column. I promise. Because, look, let’s be honest, I’ve been a bit…
Don’t try to be liked, and buy your steak at Aldi – the lessons I’ve learned in 2016
Merry Christmas everyone. Here are some things I learned — or relearned — in 2016. 1. That which does…
