Columnists
We’re all the worse for drink
I’m not one of these teetotallers who frowns on people who imbibe, like an angsty ex-smoker who petulantly swats away…
How to be a man
The river of death has brimmed his banks And England’s far and Honour’s a name But the voice of…
The most sinister thing about Huawei may be how clean it is
I first wrote about the risks and rumours around Huawei — and made bad jokes about its name — in…
The Spectator’s Notes
Despite huge public pressure, I shall not be applying to be director-general of the BBC. It was kind of Tony…
Labour must change if it is to win
In the past 40 years, only two leaders of the opposition have gone on to become prime minister: Tony Blair…
A last chance to save the BBC
Whoever becomes the next director-general of the BBC should take a close look at last week’s Question Time. It came…
Meditations on a scream in the night
It was a clear and icy night at home in Derbyshire last week. I love these times and, before bed,…
Is ‘Mini Mike’ a growing threat to Trump?
Should Bernie Sanders become the Democratic presidential nominee, expect the media to overuse these sprightly English expressions: ‘between a rock…
HS2’s completion is as likely as King Harry’s coronation
Seven years ago, when HS2 was still officially costed at £33 billion, I wrote that I was looking forward to…
Anyone for a Sussex Royal potato?
Earlier this week, we accompanied our daughter-in-law, Hannah, to her British citizenship ceremony, she having passed the necessary tests. (Hannah…
Why the cabinet reshuffle might not be so radical after all
Prime ministers are never more powerful than just before a cabinet reshuffle. Ministers fall over themselves to be helpful, hoping…
We want one thing from our royals: patriotism
There is a fascinating social media group which I think we should all join. It is called ‘DeMOCKracy — 2019…
Vampire squids are killing Britain’s B&Bs
More and more of us are staying home for our holidays — but even so, our small hotels and B&Bs…
I’m at risk of becoming a cat person
Just before Christmas our cat Runty died and I wasn’t in any rush to find a replacement. I like cats…
Never mind the royals – the real national crisis is at John Lewis
Asked to name British institutions they’d rather not see shaken to the foundations, many consumers would list the John Lewis…
Why bother joining the Labour party?
Now that there is yet another chance to vote for a leader of the Labour party, if you are prepared…
The Labour candidates the Tories are worried about
When a Labour politician or aide stops to chat in the corridors of parliament these days, they only have one…
World war three? No, this was about Trump’s second term
If this is the start of the third world war, as some quivering liberal commentators seem to believe, then my…
My fellow Remainers should not aim for a ‘soft Brexit’
‘I like to write when I’m feeling spiteful,’ remarked D.H. Lawrence. ‘It’s like having a good sneeze.’ A perennial challenge…
For cod’s sake, don’t sacrifice the fish
One of the more dispiriting experiences of the British supermarket is a visit to the fish counter. On a historically…
All forecasts are off if Iran shuts the Strait of Hormuz
Just when you thought it was safe to go back in the water… Late last year, a range of forecasts…
The mysteries of the Corbyn world-view
It is worth fixing for posterity the feelings which, on polling day, swirled in the breasts of many who wanted…
Indyref2 could be the biggest headache of Boris’s premiership
Nicola Sturgeon is the only opposition leader who survived the general election. She has emerged far stronger. The Tories had…
Caroline Flint could have beaten Boris
There were not many moments of gloom on election night. I spent most of it, so far as I can…
Why I changed my mind about Catholicism
I grew up in a traditional English family, surrounded by cousins, chivvied by aunts, presided over by my grandmother, who…
