To the core
Whilst John Howard struggled with his ‘core’ and ‘non-core’ promises, it may well be core and non-core values that end…
Brown Study
People seem to think I do not like the ABC. I can understand why some people hold this view. It…
Budget Diary
There was a big story last week. It involved ministers, the media and the long arm of the law. Coverage…
Some boats shouldn’t be turned back
Gough Whitlam demonised the Vietnamese boat people.
We should be welcoming them to our shores.
Return of the Three Elevens
The rise of the Greens threatens to take federal politics back to the turn of the century. The last century.
Diplomatic Notes
Paris this spring was still beautiful, but tense. Post-Charlie Hebdo, 8,000 smart, almost chic, soldiers supplement the edgy French police.…
Culture Buff
Forty years ago I predicted an imminent Mendelsshon revival; I’m still waiting. This month brought a false dawn; at the…
Australian Notes
Good advice from the (Anglican) Church of Ireland: ‘We now sincerely urge a spirit of generosity both from those for…
Australian letters
Baume strikes gold Sir: It is interesting that the above competition between the two largest exporting countries is at last…
Shuffleduck
There are some odd opening moves in chess, such as 1 a3 and 1 g4. The former was used by…
No. 364
Black to play. This is from Westman-Walther, Havana 1966. Black has the possibility of a discovered check against the white…
Occasional verse
In Competition No. 2899 you were invited to write a poem commemorating the birth of Princess Charlotte of Cambridge. The…
Dear Mary
Q. I felt uncomfortable during a dinner for 20 in a private house. The young man on my left had…
High anxiety
Fenchurch is a restaurant that is scared of terrorists. It cowers at the top of 20 Fenchurch Street, a skyscraper…
Redefining aid
In this week’s Queen’s Speech, the government promised as usual to cut red tape for businesses. But David Cameron is…
High life
An operation on my hand after a karate injury has had me reading more than usual. I even attempted Don…
Long life
From reading the newspapers you might get the impression that honeybees were on the way to extinction. In Europe, it…
Long life
From reading the newspapers you might get the impression that honeybees were on the way to extinction. In Europe, it…
Low life
On 26 June there is a party at the Spectator office at 22 Old Queen Street to launch a paperback…
Low life
On 26 June there is a party at the Spectator office at 22 Old Queen Street to launch a paperback…
Eurovision-speak
Like a reluctantly remembered nightmare, last week’s Eurovision Song Contest already seems very distant. But, in the manner of the…
