A free vote on the Heathrow runway? Don’t be so wet, Prime Minister
Hinkley Point — for all its flaws and the whiffs of suspicion around its Chinese investors — has finally received…
The miracle of Hong Kong
Since he moved to Hong Kong three years ago, the Rat’s Cantonese has been coming on apace. This has rather…
When the fear of racism trumps everything else
Do you remember Alan Kurdi, the poor, drowned three-year-old whose photograph provoked a wave of sympathy for migrants almost exactly…
The Spectator’s Notes
When I read that Martin Roth, the director of the V&A, was resigning from his job because of Brexit, I…
Cautionary tale
The closing credits of National Treasure (Channel 4, Tuesday) contain the usual disclaimer that any resemblance between its characters and…
This could be the end of the Labour party
English Conservatives and Scottish Nationalists do not wake at 3 a.m., drenched in sweat, worrying about how they can defeat…
The rise and fall of the Chumocracy
All political careers end in failure — it’s the dynastic death throes you want to watch. The leader departs with…
Corbyn has won – again. This could be the end of the Labour party
Those of us on the left should imagine how our political rivals felt when watching Jeremy Corbyn’s latest victory speech. English…
Haunted by an honourable member
I was awoken late on Monday night by a horrible nightmare, one of those dreams where you cannot be entirely…
Muslim immigration: we are all very guilty, very guilty indeed
So, we now know why Essential Research has found that 49 per cent of the people it polled support a…
Hinch’s s*** on the liver
Revelations reported yesterday about Human Headline turned crucial Senate vote Derryn Hinch’s fondness for a tipple caused a bit of…
Why Donald Trump is Reagan’s heir
For the first time in more than 25 years the Republican Party has a legitimate heir to the blue collar…
Unleash Aboriginal business potential
The August 2016 decision of the Federal Court to award $3.3 million under the Native Title Act to traditional owners…
Further Syrian notes
My article in this week’s Speccie took a look at important developments in the Syrian civil war: the US-led coalition’s decision to put regime…
A sugar tax: insanity is catching
Here we go again. The UK Government unveiled its plans for a sugar tax in March this year. Closer to…
John Howard prompts a go slow at the Spencer Street Soviet
“When John Howard took to the stage at the National Press Club some days ago …” The Age’s editorial begins…
Cause offence? Go directly to jail
Bertrand Russell said, “Do not use power to suppress opinions you think pernicious, for if you do the opinions will…
The dangers of underestimating coal
According to research commissioned by The Australia Institute if we ban all new coalmines, allowing coal production to fall from…
Journos or Groupies?
Sam Dastyari’s ‘Chinese indiscretion’ hit the press on Tuesday of the first week of parliament. It was immediately followed by…
Barometer
French intelligence Some interesting facts about the French foreign minister, Jean-Marc Ayrault, for the benefit of shadow foreign secretary Emily…
Not much to smile about
CBeebies Land is a small dystopia inside Alton Towers, a theme park where people sometimes get their legs chopped off…
In defence of Asquith
From ‘Mr. Asquith’, The Spectator, 16 September, 1916: King George has no other subject who is trusted so widely by his…
Selfie
In Competition No. 2965, an enormously popular one, you were invited to write a poem about a verse form, written…
Plato on grammar schools
Theresa May wants to use grammar schools to create a meritocratic, ‘socially mobile’ society at a cost of £50 million.…
Inside David Cameron’s personal Brexit
In the days following David Cameron’s resignation as prime minister, Michael Gove tried to persuade the Cameroons to back Boris…
