Who’s on the Supreme Court
Ordinarily, the Supreme Court sits in panels of no more than nine. All 11 justices will hear the government’s appeal, to…
Algerian winter
It is more than possible that before any Brexit deal is discussed, let alone concluded, the EU will have effectively…
Ultimate fighting president
Last month a rich, boastful alpha male savoured the greatest victory of his life in New York City. Almost no…
The Brits behind Trump
It’s the Brits wot won it. That is, the US presidential election was won for Donald Trump with the help…
Europe: the Next step
It often seems like the European referendum campaign never really ended. Everything from budget forecasts to Britain’s Olympic performance is…
Called to the bar
If you’ve missed the endless articles whingeing about pub closures, it must be because you’ve been too blotto to focus.…
A good night’s sleep
Have you, on hearing the story of the princess who felt a pea through 40 feather mattresses, ever thought that…
Brexit in the balance
For once, a cliché is justified: the government’s appeal to the Supreme Court next week really will be a landmark…
Trivial pursuits
Robert Rauschenberg, like Autolycus in The Winter’s Tale, was a ‘snapper-up of unconsidered trifles’. Unlike Shakespeare’s character, however, he made…
All I want for Christmas
Comfort and joy. That’s what the song talks about, and that’s what the classic Christmas movies deliver. Whether it’s Die…
The Battle for Britain
The post The Battle for Britain appeared first on The Spectator. Got something to add? Join the discussion and comment…
Bridge
It was the best hand I’d had all year — and what’s more, I picked it up while playing rubber…
Overreach
Game eight of the World Championship in New York broke the deadlock of hard-fought draws in the first seven games.…
Chess puzzle
White to play. This position is from Rubinstein-Johner, Carlsbad 1911. How did Rubinstein gain a winning position with a standard…
The long view
In Competition No. 2976 you were invited to submit an extract of a speech in which a well-known figure from…
to 2286: B
The unclued lights are provinces or areas of BELGIUM. First prize C.R. Haigh, Hassocks, West SussexRunners-up Frank McDonald, Carron, Falkirk;…
Bottle shots
This is something to be said for starting to celebrate Christmas before the end of the grouse season. It provides…
European diary
In the pretty medieval city of Wroclaw one highlight is the pierogis – the fat, soggy dumplings Poland is famous…
High life
Richard Spencer made the front page of the New York Times two days in a row last week, and earned…
Long life
Most people who die in Britain are now cremated — more than 70 per cent of them — but there…
Low life
My mother is a bore magnet. They travel from miles around to sit in the chair opposite hers and tell…
They
‘When I asked the bank,’ said my husband, ‘they were no help at all.’ My attention was distracted from his…
Audience with the King
Elvis Aron Presley departed this world on 16 August, 1977. Even if you delight in conspiracy theories and believe the…
Real life
‘How was your week?’ I asked my friend as we rode our horses to Bookham Common. ‘Fine,’ she said. ‘Except…
