The Week
The Tory party has no choice but to bet on Boris
When Boris Johnson was appointed editor of this magazine two decades ago, an unkind soul said it was like ‘entrusting…
Portrait of the week: Boris surges ahead, Chuka joins the Lib Dems and Chris Froome crashes
Home Boris Johnson was well ahead in the parliamentary stage of the contest for the leadership of the Conservative party,…
History will wonder how we trusted Boris with Britain
I am besieged by media folk asking when I shall make good on a four-year-old threat to flee to Buenos…
Boris and the perils of popularity
So: Boris triumphans, ready to deliver a 140-seat majority for the Tories and lead the UK out of Europe and…
Why are hustings called hustings?
History of hustings Why are hustings called by that name? — The word ‘hustings’ is derived from an old Norse…
Letters: A green agenda will help the economy blossom
Eco opportunity Sir: As a North Sea oil engineer now working on the UK’s ‘green’ energy transition, I believe Ross…
The leadership contest exposes how few Tories have a clue about the economy
‘Choice’ is a word that is used liberally in Conservative thinking — whether it be about schools, hospitals or consumer…
Portrait of the week: Gove confesses, Brexit party falters and the BBC makes pensioners pay
Home Michael Gove, the Environment Secretary, a candidate for the Conservative leadership, admitted he had used cocaine several times 20…
Simon Schama: I’m on tour – singing. Yes, seriously
It was when the kindly folk at the Theatre Royal Haymarket said ‘You’ll be in Paul Whitehouse’s dressing-room’ that it…
What the next prime minister could learn from Cyrus the Great
As Tory hopefuls bid to become prime minister, they might like to reflect on Cyrus the Great (r. 557-530 bc),…
How many people have tried illicit drugs?
What’s in a name? If Jeremy Hunt wins the Conservative leadership election both prime minister and leader of the opposition…
Australian letters
ABC bites Sir: It has been widely reported that the ABC in its wisdom is mounting a court case against…
Playing chicken: Trade deals with the US will make Britain stronger
Why is it that free trade, which almost everyone agrees is good when conducted with other European countries, suddenly becomes…
Portrait of the week: Trump visits, Change UK crumbles and a row over Tiananmen Square
Home President Donald Trump of the United States made a state visit to the United Kingdom, avoiding protesters by arriving…
Everything under the sun: The glory of garden centres
Don’t you just love garden centres? You have to be mad to go on a sunny Sunday morning in the…
Boris Johnson may have found an advocate in ancient Greece
Boris Johnson is to be tried at the Crown Court on the grounds that, during the 2016 Brexit referendum campaign,…
What are the perks of being Jean-Claude Juncker?
Juncker’s perks The European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker complained that he doesn’t have an official residence, unlike the ambassadors who…
Letters: Vote Gove, get Corbyn
Trump and Brexit Sir: Your leading article (‘The Trump card’, 1 June) states that ‘May’s successor should seek to capitalise…
Australian letters
Firestorm Sir: After blaming the firestorm which immolated them at the federal election on the cunning perversity of everyone but…
The Trump card: We should welcome Donald Trump’s visit – and treat him as a friend
The day after Britain voted to leave the European Union, Donald Trump arrived by helicopter at Turnberry, his golf course…
Portrait of the week: Brexit party triumphs, May resigns and Corbyn has an unhappy birthday
Home The Brexit party, led by Nigel Farage, received 5,248,533 votes (out of 17,199,701 cast) in the European parliament elections,…
History will be kinder to Theresa May than we have been
Recording the BBC Radio 4 Reith Lectures has brought me to five cities and five styles of questioning. Cardiff had…
How many people make it up Everest?
Tears for fears Theresa May welled up while announcing her resignation in Downing Street. How often do leaders cry? —…
Plutarch’s advice for the Tory leadership candidates
The MPs wishing to replace Theresa May as prime minister have policies — but do they know what their electorate…
Letters: It will be fatal for the Tories if they put a Remainer on the leadership shortlist
Leavers only, please Sir: Your leading article (‘The end of May’, 25 May) correctly calls for the Conservative party to…
