Real life
Andy the tech guy looked delighted when I told him I had done the stupidest thing ever. He is one…
Thrills and chivalry at the most civilised place on earth
If heaven is a place on earth, as Belinda Carlisle so wisely observed, then surely that place has to be…
Sturgeon doth protest too much, me thinks
I couldn’t believe it when Nicola Sturgeon called for the resignation of Alistair Carmichael, the former Scottish Secretary, over his…
Sturgeon doth protest too much, me thinks
I couldn’t believe it when Nicola Sturgeon called for the resignation of Alistair Carmichael, the former Scottish Secretary, over his…
Flat pack
Getting to Goodwood last Saturday was an achievement in itself. On the Bank Holiday weekend I calculated a cross-country route…
The northern powerhouses of ancient Turkey
Government claims that it will ‘free’ northern cities to turn themselves into ‘powerhouses’. Since most of them are held by…
Barometer
Steam privatisation Cunard celebrated its 175th birthday by sailing three liners down the Mersey. The formation of the Cunard Line…
A new coalition
From ‘The National Government’, The Spectator, 29 May 1915: We do not suppose that the war, or the need for patriotic effort,…
Portrait of the week
Home A Bill to enable a referendum on whether voters wanted Britain to ‘remain’ in the European Union figured in…
Stolen goods
Man Up is a British rom-com starring Simon Pegg as Jack and Lake Bell as Nancy. Nancy’s problem, at the…
Budget Diary
There was a big story last week. It involved ministers, the media and the long arm of the law. Coverage…
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…
Which behaved worse: callous Thomas Cook or cynical Barclays?
Which is worse, morally and reputationally — to be Thomas Cook, shamed by its refusal to show proper human concern,…
Does anyone really expect the EU referendum to resolve anything?
I suppose, if you could look deep into the mind of somebody who was passionately keen that Britain should leave…
In today’s church, it seems, God can be outvoted
I see. So now we have the result of the Irish referendum on gay marriage, and now we’ve heard the…
Cameron’s EU rollercoaster
Listen http://rss.acast.com/viewfrom22/defeatingisis/media.mp3 We have just had a very insular general election campaign, but the mood at Westminster is now determined…
The Spectator’s Notes
Amnesty International and others have placed a large newspaper advertisement telling Michael Gove ‘Don’t Scrap Our Human Rights’. The ad…
Living history
It has been a while since the BBC really pushed the boat out on the epic history documentary front. Perhaps…
St Moritz
Here’s a tip: when travelling to St Moritz, it’s best not to mention the name of your final destination to…
Australian Notes
Good advice from the (Anglican) Church of Ireland: ‘We now sincerely urge a spirit of generosity both from those for…
Benefits for people who don’t live here? Great idea
Yet another exciting discovery from the world of Islamic science. As you are probably aware, Islamic culture has always paid…
Portrait of the week
Home The annual rate of inflation turned negative in April, for the first time since 1960, with deflation of 0.1…
