Bellum sociorum
The internecine but friendly annual rivalry between the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge, generously hosted last month by the Chess Circle…
No. 402
Black to play. This is from Pichot-Khismatullin, Moscow 2016. What was Black’s killing blow? Answers to me at The Spectator…
Short story
In Competition No. 2941 you were invited to supply a short story entitled ‘Diary of a Superfluous Man’. Turgenev’s Tchulkaturin;…
Your problems solved
Q. Twice recently our host has clinked his glass, required us to stop relaxing and instead take part in a…
Send in the Alsatians
Islington is a bellwether, and also a joke: the most unequal borough in London, where social housing leans against £4…
Power failure
A fortnight ago, the energy minister, Andrea Leadsom, declared grandly that Britain, alone in the world, would commit to a…
High life
My old friend and one-time doubles partner Ray Moore has stepped down as chief executive of the Indian Wells Tennis…
Long life
The Parish Church of St Luke in Sydney Street, Chelsea, is enormous. Vaguely reminiscent of King’s College Chapel, Cambridge, it…
Long life
The Parish Church of St Luke in Sydney Street, Chelsea, is enormous. Vaguely reminiscent of King’s College Chapel, Cambridge, it…
Gender fluid
Benjamin Franklin thought that an excess of electric fluid gave rise to positive electricity, and a deficiency of the fluid…
Real life
After a year of affordable car insurance, I knew I had to be in for it when my premium came…
Reasons to be cheerful, parts one, two, three…
Well the sun is out, the sky is blue, and poor Boris Johnson is taking such a pounding from Matthew…
Why I’m uneasy about academies for all
As someone who believes in limited government, I feel conflicted about universal academisation. I’m a fan of the academies policy…
Why I’m uneasy about academies for all
As someone who believes in limited government, I feel conflicted about universal academisation. I’m a fan of the academies policy…
My Cheltenham misery
Everybody has their glory memory from Cheltenham this year. Some celebrate the extraordinary seven victories for the quietly confident Willie…
My Cheltenham misery
Everybody has their glory memory from Cheltenham this year. Some celebrate the extraordinary seven victories for the quietly confident Willie…
The Greek Donald Trump
Why does the Republican party loathe Donald Trump? Because Trump is the ultimate loose cannon, beholden to no one. And…
Barometer
Area of doubt Hillary Clinton has said that if she is elected she will open files on the US military…
The road to remembrance
From ‘The “Via Sacra”’, The Spectator, 1 April 1916: When the war is over, France, Belgium, and Britain will be faced with…
Letters
Amber warning Sir: James Forsyth’s interview with Amber Rudd (‘The Amber Express’, 19 March) was very revealing, but also slightly…
Portrait of the week
Home The Indian company Tata decided to sell its entire steel business in Britain, putting more than 15,000 jobs in…
The future is here
Oculus Rift. It sounds like something from a science fiction novel, and in many ways it is. Its release this…
Good clean fun
I once forced some pals on a skiing holiday to spend an afternoon off the slopes watching Chalet Girl. Suffice…
