The Week
It is time to join the fight against IS in Syria
The Islamic State is as monstrous an enemy as we have seen in recent history. It crucifies and decapitates its…
Puppet statecraft
‘Please do not mistake democracy for division. We’re now allowing people to express their views in a way in which…
Barometer: Who was the first warmist?
The first warmist The first attempt to quantify the link between CO2 in the atmosphere and global temperatures was attributed…
Diary
First, an apology. Thanks to me, all journalists at BBC Radio’s ethics and religion division are being sent for indoctrination…
Let unions pay MPs
From ‘Payment of members’, The Spectator, 4 December 1915: If the country could be polled at the present time, there is…
Portrait of the week
Home The House of Commons voted on air strikes in Syria. Labour MPs had been allowed a free vote by…
The ringfence cycle
By now, George Osborne had hoped to have completed his austerity programme. Instead, he finds himself making what is, still,…
Portrait of the week
Home David Cameron, the Prime Minister, announced, as part of the Strategic Defence and Security Review, plans for two 5,000-strong…
Diary
Scientists are experimenting with growing replacement vocal cords in the lab, as well as transplanting them from dogs. That was…
The many fights over the Lord’s Prayer
Amen corner Digital Cinema Media, a company which distributes adverts to cinemas, refused to allow an advert which involves the…
True dedication
Benjamin Clementine, who won the 2015 Mercury Music Prize for his debut album At Least For Now, received his cheque…
Capitalism for all
From ‘Public loans and private savings’, The Spectator, 27 November 1915: In the nature of things there is no reason for…
Australian Letters
Not Jesus Sir: Damian Thompson (Pope vs church, November 7) is concerned that Pope Francis is compromising “the great strength…
The ringfence cycle
By now, George Osborne had hoped to have completed his austerity programme. Instead, he finds himself making what is, still,…
True dedication
Benjamin Clementine, who won the 2015 Mercury Music Prize for his debut album At Least For Now, received his cheque…
The many fights over the Lord’s Prayer
Amen corner Digital Cinema Media, a company which distributes adverts to cinemas, refused to allow an advert which involves the…
Diary
Scientists are experimenting with growing replacement vocal cords in the lab, as well as transplanting them from dogs. That was…
Capitalism for all
From ‘Public loans and private savings’, The Spectator, 27 November 1915: In the nature of things there is no reason for…
Portrait of the week
Home David Cameron, the Prime Minister, announced, as part of the Strategic Defence and Security Review, plans for two 5,000-strong…
A better way
To say that the Paris attacks could have happened in Britain is not enough. Such attacks are being attempted here…
Portrait of the week
Home After the killings in Paris, David Cameron, the Prime Minister, said that seven terrorist attacks on Britain had been…
Ian Rankin’s diary: Paris, ignoring Twitter and understanding evil
After ten days away, I spent last Friday at home alone, catching up on washing, shopping for cat food, answering…
How they tried (and failed) to make ‘La Marseillaise’ nicer
Friendly words England football fans sang ‘La Marseillaise’ in a friendly match at Wembley. The anthem has not always been…
Why do we assume our western good life will last for ever?
The slaughter in Paris is a catastrophe for the victims and their families, but the usual hysterical response across the…
The French way of war
From ‘The Example of France’, The Spectator, 20 November 1915: France is an example to the world and to posterity…
