Freedom of speech guarantees your right to know
The First Amendment of the Bill of Rights of the United States Constitution contains the following words: Congress shall make…
The ABC’s credibility has vanished beneath the waves, not Venice
The ABC has clearly given up on any pretence of any claim to rational, balanced and impartial journalism. This fact…
The biggest risk that Boris Johnson is taking in this election
It will be the biggest moment of the campaign so far. On Tuesday night, Boris Johnson and Jeremy Corbyn will…
Boris could learn from Macron’s approach to extremism
Boris Johnson and Emmanuel Macron have more in common than just a desire to ‘get Brexit done’. The pair also…
Our flood defences aren’t fit for the climate we have now
This week’s political fuss over whether the floods in Yorkshire constitute a ‘national emergency’ misses the point. It is too…
Portrait of the week: Farage’s climbdown, Yorkshire’s floods and Australia’s fires
Home Nigel Farage, the leader of the Brexit party, climbed down from his resolution to field 600 candidates in the…
It would be a big mistake to underestimate Corbyn
Thud. It’s my advance copy of Dorothy Byrne’s new book, Trust Me, I’m Not a Politician, landing on the doormat.…
How many countries have been ruled by a Boris?
Leaders called Boris How many countries have been ruled by a Boris? — Russia has had two Borises in charge.…
For the ancient Greeks, the only point in taking part was to win
The England team reached the final of the rugby world cup in Japan but they lost. As athletes, they knew…
Letters: Why I’ll vote for Boris
A bad idea Sir: Your editorial in favour of an amnesty for illegal immigrants (‘The case for amnesty’, 9 November)…
My charter of fundamental rights
I was chatting to a young medical student, a very bright chap from West Africa, who was nonetheless perplexed by…
The joy of a day spent bagging almost no birds
The highlight of my country calendar is when I’m lucky enough to be invited to what even the host describes…
Sordid confessions of a Centrist Dad
I have a shameful secret. I’ve been watching these… videos online. Amazing what you can get in a couple of…
Why China is planting its flag on what’s left of British Steel
It cannot be other than good news that a rescuer has been found for the bankrupt remains of British Steel,…
Can Nigel Farage take the Tories to victory?
Despite the consistent poll lead and projections of a majority of about 40 seats, the Tories are still nervous. They…
The five groups of voters the Tories are targeting
Tory MPs used to think they could rely on telltale signs while out on the campaign trail — a detached…
Trevor Rene’s battle to stay in Britain
When Boris Johnson edited this magazine, it proposed an amnesty for illegal immigrants — a controversial notion, but an idea…
Exclusive: Dominic Cummings’s secret links to Russia
This week, a malign foreign actor invaded the British media, spreading disinformation and seeking to meddle in the general election.…
Now is the time for the Tories to be borrowing more
How should fiscal conservatism be defined? George Osborne inherited a fiscal deficit that was clearly unsustainable. During the panic over…
Be more carthorse: why we would all benefit from a little self-loathing
Leaving the auditorium of the Royal Opera House last week after The Sleeping Beauty, I passed a woman taking selfie…
OK zoomer, is that really the best you’ve got?
Every generation and teen subculture likes to put the boot into baby boomers like me. I’ve been physically attacked by…
The joy of rummaging through Gladstone’s annotated books
Gladstone’s Library began as that most English of things: a great man’s visionary idea. William Gladstone, at the age of…
Books of the year – part two
Richard Ingrams A book that gave me great enjoyment (for all the wrong reasons) was Harvest Bells: New and Uncollected…
Yalta was a carve-up — and the Poles are understandably still bitter about it
‘The strong do what they can. The weak suffer what they must.’ Thucydides’ principle expresses an uncomfortable truth. The eight-day…
Eleanor of Aquitaine is still as elusive as quicksilver
Eleanor of Aquitaine is the most famous woman of the Middle Ages: queen of France and England, crusader, mother of…
