Bandana republic
Two plebiscites, a convention, a referendum, massive funding and a bloke in a red bandana. But will it work?
Downing Street diary
Ridiculously premature talk of Prime Ministerial succession, commentary by John Howard on the need to secure national borders and a…
Rumble in the jungle
In the surreal tropical politics of contemporary Malaysia it is good business sense to use government funds to make loss-making…
Australian notes
The Prime Minister and the journalist Greg Sheridan go back a long way. The other evening in Sydney’s Parliament House,…
For your own good
I grew up queer in Bjelke-Petersen’s Queensland. Bjelke-Petersen was populist, racist, and religious: he hated socialism, but the Queensland of…
Glasgow
A wet walk in a Glaswegian graveyard might not be your idea of fun, but then you might not have…
Stormy Petroff
Alexander Petroff (1794-1867) is often remembered as the first great Russian chess master. He became the strongest player in Russia…
No. 372
White to play. This position is from Howell-Sokolov, Staunton Memorial 2009. How can White finish off his attack with a…
Open and shut case
In Competition No. 2908 you were invited to submit a comically appalling opening to an imaginary novel. Thanks are due…
Your problems solved
Q. I have learned that someone I much admired in youth is about to become single again. I only have…
Young guns
The Honourable Society of Odd Bottles began proceedings with a report on the activities of our junior branch. These youngsters…
House in order
The shaming of Lord Sewel was a classic tabloid exposé. The fact that a peer of the realm (albeit one…
High life
We all agree that a world without manners would make this a pretty grim place to live. Offensive informality is…
Long life
I was wondering what to write about this week when I suddenly realised that exactly 40 years ago this Saturday…
Long life
I was wondering what to write about this week when I suddenly realised that exactly 40 years ago this Saturday…
Low life
After Trev had mugged the mugger in the toilet we moved quickly on to another club. The Double O is…
Low life
After Trev had mugged the mugger in the toilet we moved quickly on to another club. The Double O is…
I love it that you…
I had never heard the Country (Red Dirt) singer Wade Bowen before, although his latest album Hold my Beer (Vol 1)…
Real life
‘No, I do not do WhatsApp.’ That’s pretty much all I ever seem to say to people nowadays. They ask…
Trouble withthe neighbours
A few years ago, I got a bit fed up with receiving Christmas cards from my friends designed to show…
Trouble withthe neighbours
A few years ago, I got a bit fed up with receiving Christmas cards from my friends designed to show…
Let’s pay for the BBC content we use
What follows is a proposal for reducing the BBC licence fee and improving the corporation’s output while saving the British…
Jeremy Corbyn’s world
Jeremy Corbyn says he is very excited about his campaign to become Labour leader because lots of young people are…
