At the start of a long war, would we remember our sense of duty?
Reading Memoirs of a Fox-Hunting Man, as I have recently, you cannot help but be struck by what a perfectly…
Would you put your life in the care of Dr Droid?
There’s something wrong with the relationship between patients and their GPs. I’ve spent much of this winter in my local…
How Greek voters will decide Britain’s general election
Before the eurozone crisis, Greek elections didn’t receive much attention in Westminster. At the moment, however, the polls from Athens…
‘J’adore Michel’
Michel Houellebecq’s sixth novel, imagining an Islamic government taking power in France in 2022, has been widely assumed to be…
‘J’adore Michel’
Michel Houellebecq’s sixth novel, imagining an Islamic government taking power in France in 2022, has been widely assumed to be…
Why everyone, and almost no one, is Charlie
Je suis Charlie indeed. This is the problem with placards — there is rarely enough room to fit in the caveats,…
Intern’s diary
Four months in Washington D.C., interning on Capitol Hill sounded pretty good to a kid who was addicted to The…
Australian notes
It must have been one of the last cartoons he drew before he was murdered. The editor of Charlie Hebdo…
Portrait of the week
Home The electorate was bombarded with contrary claims by parties beginning campaigns for the election in May. David Cameron, the…
Barometer
...350 or more years ago. Plus: the oil price rollercoaster, the most valuable lost cargoes, and doomed animal rescues
From the archives
From ‘Lord Curzon’s speech’, The Spectator, 9 January 1915: We are glad to record, though in no way surprised to…
The utterly ludicrous and petty campaign against Ched Evans
He has served the required amount of his sentence, and he should be allowed to do the job he chose and is qualified for
When did we become a nation of narks?
I thought telling on friends, even for drink-driving, was contrary to our culture. It seems I was wrong
I guess I have to apologise for the state of the National Health Service
Had I not known that, I might have wanted to blame other people
This time round, the eurozone looks robust enough to get rid of its Greek problem
Plus: France’s latest eruption of bureaucracy, and the Chinese bid for Club Med
The election where everyone loses
Even if David Cameron or Ed Miliband secures a majority, the next parliament looks impossible to handle
Stalker
The moon comes knocking on our door; a slavish stalker who hangs around all night. The slowest of walkers, he…
The physics widow
Based on his first wife’s memoir, the film refuses to tell her complicated and disturbing story
Lost soul
No politician today would dare to speak about a ‘national soul’. No one will believe them until they do
The hype jihad
The Islamic State’s real social media skill makes commentators too willing to believe its shaky territorial claims
Flying shame
Chambéry airport just isn’t built for peak skiing season – as I discovered in the most unpleasant way
Get over yourself
Soon the day will arrive when someone asks ‘Would it be OK if myself puts yourself on hold?’
