Bridge
Congratulations — yet again — to the England women’s bridge team, who last week won gold at the European championships…
The Tour de France
On Saturday at Mont St Michel, the 103rd edition of the Tour de France begins, and the favourite to win…
Grand tour
The first two legs of this year’s Grand Chess Tour have now been staged in Paris and Leuven. There will…
No. 415
White to play. This position is from Nakamura-Caruana, Leuven Blitz 2016. White can now win material. What is the key…
Come fry with me
In Competition No. 2954 you were invited to supply an ode to a greasy spoon, a challenge prompted by a…
Dear Mary
Q. The setting was dinner for 16 at one of Europe’s most civilised houses. Sitting on the right of the…
A summer evening with Cameron
Journalists are chronic exaggerators. Strong words are always being thrown away on trivial events. ‘Whitehall was shocked last night as…
A vote of confidence
During the referendum campaign, it seemed at times as if a competition was on to issue the most hyperbolic claim…
High life
The two most beautiful words in the history of the world, in any language, are ‘Molon labe’, the accent on…
Long life
The Brexit vote has thrust this country into chaos. It has left it with neither a government nor an opposition…
Long life
The Brexit vote has thrust this country into chaos. It has left it with neither a government nor an opposition…
Low life
On referendum day, my mother leaned on my arm for support and we walked slowly and carefully up the steps…
Low life
On referendum day, my mother leaned on my arm for support and we walked slowly and carefully up the steps…
Referendums
‘One referendum, two referenda,’ chanted my husband. ‘No, no, it’s a gerund. The English plural is referendums,’ interrupted Veronica, red…
Real life
We fled Balham after the result, having been outed as the only Leave voters in Lambeth. The builder boyfriend and…
Labour: my part in its downfall
A few weeks ago, I took part in a debate at the Cambridge Union about the future of the Labour…
Labour: my part in its downfall
A few weeks ago, I took part in a debate at the Cambridge Union about the future of the Labour…
A game of chicken with the electorate
I have worked in advertising for 28 years. In that time I have seen many briefs for communication campaigns, but…
Rome’s Hilton
A traitor to one man is a hero to another. So debate rages around the role of David Cameron’s old…
Barometer
Repeat until fade More than three million voters disappointed by the result of the EU referendum have signed a petition…
Diary
Referendum day is as nondescript and wet as the day before, happily spent in Cambridge at my son’s Leo’s graduation.…
Preparing for peacetime
From ‘Preparation for peace’, The Spectator, 1 July 1916: All industrial development relies in the last resort upon human energy,…
Australian letters
Religion of peace? Sir: Chris Ashton (“It’s the religion, stupid”, 18 June 2016) refers to Christianity’s “relative peacefulness, especially today”.…
Letters
A rational vote Sir: There has been a lot of bile poured out about those who voted Leave by the…
