Features
The invention of Santa
Santa Claus ate Father Christmas. It happened quite suddenly. Well, it took about a decade, but that’s suddenly in cultural…
Notebook
One thing I won’t miss about No. 11 Downing Street are the Christmas cards: 2,056 Christmas cards to be exact. That…
From goth to Chancellor
If only I’d known. If only I’d foreseen that the teenage classmate who strode through our school gates every morning,…
Brexit’s breaking points
Trying to write the first draft of history on the EU referendum and the leader-ship mess that followed had both…
Have you ever had a prayer answered?
Justin Welby Archbishop of Canterbury There have been lots of wonderful answers to prayer over many years, including recently. One…
Red with the people’s blood
Few 20th-century historians doubted that the 1917 Russian revolution was one of the most influential events of their time, indeed…
Knowing the score
When I come home from work and stick my key in the door, there is a pitter-patter of tiny feet…
My naughty list
In the spirit of Ebenezer Scrooge, here, in no particular order, are my current irritants: • Paddy Ashdown • Lady…
Julia’s Baby
Julia should not have come to the wedding. That much was clear as soon as she arrived. Late, she was,…
Notebook
It’s weird being friends with someone who suddenly becomes President of the United States, not least for the reflected glory…
The Dwelling
Charlie Zailer wasn’t sure if she’d won or lost. On the victory side of the equation, she’d managed to avoid…
When the Donald met the Vlad - a leaked transcript
SpeccieLeaks presents: Transcript of private meeting between President Trump and President Putin, 14 February 2017, Andreyevsky Hall, Grand Kremlin Palace…
The Dwelling
Charlie Zailer wasn’t sure if she’d won or lost. On the victory side of the equation, she’d managed to avoid…
Hangovers
Although drinking excessive levels of alcohol is up there with Olympic cycling and democracy as things the British excel at,…
Julia’s Baby
Julia should not have come to the wedding. That much was clear as soon as she arrived. Late, she was,…
A curse on silky teabags
Inventor of the silky teabag, take a bow. You have achieved something that until now no one would have thought…
Who’s on the Supreme Court
Ordinarily, the Supreme Court sits in panels of no more than nine. All 11 justices will hear the government’s appeal, to…
Algerian winter
It is more than possible that before any Brexit deal is discussed, let alone concluded, the EU will have effectively…
Ultimate fighting president
Last month a rich, boastful alpha male savoured the greatest victory of his life in New York City. Almost no…
The Brits behind Trump
It’s the Brits wot won it. That is, the US presidential election was won for Donald Trump with the help…
Europe: the Next step
It often seems like the European referendum campaign never really ended. Everything from budget forecasts to Britain’s Olympic performance is…
Called to the bar
If you’ve missed the endless articles whingeing about pub closures, it must be because you’ve been too blotto to focus.…
A good night’s sleep
Have you, on hearing the story of the princess who felt a pea through 40 feather mattresses, ever thought that…
Brexit in the balance
For once, a cliché is justified: the government’s appeal to the Supreme Court next week really will be a landmark…
A good night’s sleep
Have you, on hearing the story of the princess who felt a pea through 40 feather mattresses, ever thought that…
