World
How the Mandelson scandal could prove fatal for Keir Starmer
It is judgment day in the Commons for the Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, over what he knew, and when, about…
Andrew Lloyd Webber and the dangerous truth about alcohol
There’s something, I think, very heartening and touching in reading Andrew Lloyd Webber talk about joining Alcoholics Anonymous at the ripe…
What is the supply side of Britain and Europe’s decline?
In his new book Why Populists Are Winning: and How to Beat Them, British MP Liam Byrne argues that it’s…
The changing economics of war
On 15 September 1916, at Flers-Courcelette, 49 Mark I tanks rolled into no-man’s land. Most broke down. The ones that…
Why attacks on British synagogues no longer surprise me
The news this week that two people had tried to burn down Finchley Reform Synagogue in London wasn’t even surprising.…
Trump’s armchair geography is costing him in Iran
In the 19th century, the geographer and explorer David Livingstone was scathing of what he described as ‘easy chair geographers’…
The tale of the quiet Englishman who helped make Immanuel Kant
Immanuel Kant, who was born on 22 April 1722, is perhaps best known for two things: writing The Critique of Pure…
What happened to Provence?
The best time to visit Provence, I always advise when asked, is in the spring before the scorching heat and…
Oxford needs to fight back against the university
The news that the original Oxfam bookshop on St Giles in Oxford is not to close is not just a…
Can I read Trump’s mind?
Making time to prepare to host the White House Correspondents’ Dinner has not been easy. Presently I’m flying back to…
How Peter Mandelson became Britain’s ambassador to the US – despite failing vetting
I have just been contacted by a source who knows much more about what happened with Peter Mandelson’s vetting. It…
Russia’s nationalists are falling out of love with Putin
Moscow’s Manezh exhibition hall is playing host to a celebration of the life and politics of Vladimir Zhirinovsky, the outspoken,…
The Green Party is mad, bad and dangerous
Much has been written in recent days about the outlandish proposals and deplorable opinions of the Green Party candidates standing…
Nothing prepares you for the death of a pet
My companion – my friend – Louie died suddenly on Tuesday. He was nine (his tenth birthday was due next…
Do the best cricketers have to play Test cricket?
England opener Ben Duckett had a miserable winter. His most memorable contribution to the Ashes tour was not his 202…
Deporting Axel Rudakubana’s parents won’t do any good
Axel Rudakubana’s mother and father failed as parents – and they failed the three innocent girls who were murdered in…
Melania’s mysterious messaging
On April 9, Melania Trump held a lone press conference. She showed up in a charcoal suit, delivered a speech…
The latest twist of the Mandelson scandal has badly damaged Starmer
The sacking of Sir Oliver Robbins over the vetting of Peter Mandelson is a complicated affair, so I’ll try to…
How does Starmer plan to secure the Strait of Hormuz?
Despite usually being a fan of escaping domestic trouble with travel abroad, Keir Starmer would be forgiven for thinking his…
Starmer and Macron’s desperate bid for global relevance
Iran has declared that the Strait of Hormuz is ‘completely open’ in an announcement that has been welcomed by Donald…
Will Keir Starmer be a casualty of the Epstein fallout?
In America, important men don’t seem to suffer too much over their links to the late Jeffrey Epstein. Bill Clinton,…
The questions Starmer’s ethics adviser must answer
The fall of Olly Robbins and the renewed focus on what the Prime Minister actually knew about Peter Mandelson’s appointment…
London has fallen
I disagree with Sam Leith’s recent piece entitled ‘London hasn’t fallen’. He took at face value Sadiq Khan’s claim in…
Why is this Green candidate sharing an anti-semitic post?
A terror attack on a synagogue was “not anti-semitism” but was “revenge” for Israel “murdering people,” according to a video…
Trump’s foe-bashing won’t save his capsizing presidency
Has the dustup between Washington and Tehran come to an end? ‘They’ve agreed to give us back the nuclear dust…
