Here be monsters
In Competition No. 3118, which was inspired by Joan Didion’s wonderful essay of that title, you were invited to submit…
2428: Tracks to the isles
The unclued lights (one of two words), individually or as two pairs, are of a kind. Elsewhere, ignore one accent.…
to 2425: Herein
The unclued lights are regular contributors to the pages of The Spectator week by week. 5/35, 8/10, 12/28, 13, 21A/33 and…
Is it time to revive our play about Boris’s sex life?
I’m writing this from the Conservative party conference where Boris’s attempt to ram home the message that he’s the only…
Why rugby is a perfect match for Japanese culture
The ITV set for the channel’s thunderingly good coverage of the Rugby World Cup is more Japanese than anything in…
Dear Mary: How do I cope with university flatmates who can’t cook?
Q. For many years I employed around 60 people with whom I worked in an open-plan office. I moved on from…
I’ve had my fill of brasseries: Moncks reviewed
If you review restaurants professionally you would not think Britain wanted to leave the EU. You would think she wanted…
Sweaty Betty, Acne: the fashion for nasty brand names
On my way to a party in Ealing I saw a shop called Pan Rings. A mental image popped up…
Violins of the ACO with Richard Tognetti
Every year is a year of anniversaries, not least 2020 with the 250th anniversary of Captain Cook’s voyage along the…
Quo vadis?
How did it come to this? When did the constitutional right of the US Senate to ‘advise and consent’ on…
Simon Collins
No institutions play a bigger collective part in the socio-economic future-proofing of a country than its universities. That’s where its…
Our Manchurian candidate
‘Power grows out of the barrel of a gun,’ said Mao Zedong and there were plenty in evidence in Tiananmen…
Labor’s forgotten voters
At the May federal election, Labor’s primary vote in the lower house was just 33.3 per cent – its worst…
Profits not passé
CEOs have wealth that far exceeds that of the average shareholder in their company, which they have every right to…
Portrait of an artist as ghost
There are difficult decisions to be made when writing the posthumous biography of a close friend who was as famous…
Unneighbourly notes
More than 20 years of living in Australia has caused me to think that most Australians may now never really…
University notes
Campus meltdown? Blame les marxistes! Australians have a utilitarian political culture and a talent for bureaucracy. Politicians rarely engage in…
Revenge of the Remoaners
If the UK Supreme Court’s decision on the prorogation or ending of the current session of Parliament were handed in…
Cold war kowtowing
Beijing’s birthday bash this week provides an unwelcome flashback to the dark days of the Cold War. The depressing spectacle…
Beige open plan work space
It may seem strange that a columnist should write about his own column and, in particular about a feature as…
Is not believing in transgenderism incompatible with human dignity?
Judges, like comedians, seem ever more convinced that their role in society is to broadcast their political opinions. As Jonathan…
Is Boris really going to ask for a Brexit extension?
Boris Johnson will seek an extension to Article 50 if there is no Brexit deal by 19 October, documents read…
China: almost 70 million dead to show for 70 years
The People’s Republic of China this week has celebrated 70 years of existence. At the start of October 1949, Mao…
Alexander Downer and his friends in high places
It’s always nice to know one has friends in high places. Speaking for the Australian government, our Ambassador to the…
