High life
Gstaad I’m not usually nonplussed, but this is very strange: the memoir of Barbara Black, the wife of my…
Portrait of the Week
Home At one minute past midnight on Monday, new laws came into force prohibiting households in England increasing their numbers…
Bridge
My friend Ollie Burgess has just made the bold move of quitting his job in Manchester, and moving to London…
Identity crisis
On the face of it, there could scarcely be better conditions for a revival of the Labour party. Even before…
Low life
Hairpin bends in a stony forest. Downhill. Steep, then steeper. Smooth frictionless tarmac. I’ve got the car barely under control.…
The Spectator’s Notes
One of the most extraordinary features of the ‘cancel culture’ is how well it works. All decent people hate it,…
Diary
I moved to this country from the USA 30 years ago and this year I’ve finally understood why: it was…
It’s all in the timing
Three bottles, three questions that delivered three different answers. I was in Dorset — cannot keep away — enjoying the…
Boris’s critics were right all along
A friend emailed me earlier this week in despair about the Prime Minister. ‘Boris reminds me of a hereditary king…
The turf
It is all, it seems, in the tweaks. So said Aidan O’Brien, Ireland’s master-trainer supreme, before his tough filly Magical…
Bat
My husband may not often be right, but he had some cogent criticism of the much-quoted words of Geoffrey Howe…
Boris Johnson: the second wave is coming in
There has been growing speculation this week that Britain is heading back towards a second lockdown. Today, it was reported…
Exclusive poll: majority say election can be held safely in person
A majority of voters believe that November’s election can be conducted safely in person, according to a new poll provided…
Amal Clooney’s curious resignation
This afternoon, leading human-rights lawyer Amal Clooney (and wife of George) handed in her resignation to the government. Clooney has…
Rise in cases not (yet) affecting the over-70s
Perhaps the most reliable test of Covid-19 levels is carried out by the Office for National Statistics, which every week…
The Covid cancelling of Van Morrison
Cancel culture has come for Belfast’s finest son. Ulster singer-songwriter Van Morrison, consociationally worshipped god of Norn Irn dad rock,…
With scientists divided, it’s time for politicians to decide
Later today, the ONS coronavirus survey will confirm that Covid-19 is on the march again everywhere, not just in regional…
Why isn’t Matt Hancock taking Covid false positives seriously?
As Matt Hancock was doing his media round this morning, it was refreshing to hear him finally being questioned about…
Andy Murray shouldn’t cancel Margaret Court
Cancel culture has hit the world of tennis – again. Top British player Andy Murray has reignited a torturous debate…
Merkel ally claims ‘Britain is joining the ranks of despots’
German politicians have been understandably fired up about Boris Johnson’s plan to breach the Brexit treaty. While the relationship between…
Donald Trump: defender of liberalism
Some things are right even if Donald Trump believes them. The President’s Constitution Day speech was a doughty defence of…
Our testing regime is dangerously flawed – here’s how to fix it
Matt Hancock has announced a £100 billion spending programme for mass population testing — his so-called ‘moonshot’ initiative, that would…
EXCLUSIVE: Daniel Andrews’ plan for indefinite detention – and more
The Victorian Labor government has introduced a bill to parliament that coupled with other measures is one of the most…
If Daniel Andrews has even lost the ABC… Wow
The findings of the ABC’s “independent” editorial complaints investigation unit are usually viewed with the same mix of bemusement and…
