Politics
Tibet should not despair
Surely no political process in the modern world is more shrouded in mystery than the way the Chinese select a new supreme leader — except perhaps the occult divination practised… Read more
Politics: Does Cameron actually oppose AV? He should
Referendums are a very un-British device. Referendums are a very un-British device. They are, as Clement Attlee said, ‘alien to all our traditions’ of parliamentary democracy. Yet in 12 weeks’… Read more
Politics: In times such as these, a government needs a proper strategic foreign policy
The coalition’s approach to foreign policy is not to have a foreign policy. The coalition’s approach to foreign policy is not to have a foreign policy. There is no Cameron… Read more
Palace intrigue
Plunging into the second volume of Alastair Campbell’s diaries is like opening a Samuel Richardson novel. Plunging into the second volume of Alastair Campbell’s diaries is like opening a Samuel… Read more
Politics: Westminster just isn’t built for coalitions
The Liberal Democrats’ current problems can be traced back to 28 October 1943. The Liberal Democrats’ current problems can be traced back to 28 October 1943. On that day, the… Read more
Politics: From Red Ed to Steady Eddie
Nick Clegg and Ed Miliband are locked in a political duel, and only one of them can survive. Nick Clegg and Ed Miliband are locked in a political duel, and… Read more
Politics: Get ready for a year of upheavals
This will be the year of the political identity crisis. This will be the year of the political identity crisis. As we enter 2011, all three major parties are having… Read more
Politics: Nick Clegg must reform his party for the sake of democracy – and survival
Nick Clegg’s tuition fees nightmare was never going to be over after the Commons vote. Nick Clegg’s tuition fees nightmare was never going to be over after the Commons vote.… Read more
Politics: The right way to help Ireland
Why is Britain committing £7 billion to a bailout which will trap Ireland in its present discontents? Would you trust an economic forecaster who had recently said this? The euro has done… Read more
Politics: Miliband’s Labour is in danger of becoming invisible
It is hard not to feel sorry for the ex-Cabinet ministers who have stayed on the Labour front bench. It is hard not to feel sorry for the ex-Cabinet ministers… Read more
A going-away present
A great time ago when the world was young there was a pleasant and harmless custom by which a British ambassador when leaving his post could sit down and write… Read more
Politics: What Dubya taught Dave
When you think of George W. Bush, ‘philosophical influence’ isn’t the first phrase that springs to mind. When you think of George W. Bush, ‘philosophical influence’ isn’t the first phrase… Read more
Let councils take the decisions – and the blame
Let councils take the decisions – and the blame If there’s something strange in your neighbourhood, the coalition wants you to call ‘bureaucracy busters’. This may sound like an irritating… Read more
Politics: The coalition gets away with a sneaky power grab
On Monday night, David Cameron and Nick Clegg succumbed to the temptations of power. On Monday night, David Cameron and Nick Clegg succumbed to the temptations of power. They went… Read more
A world of ignorance
America’s politicians are hopeless at understanding other countries – but they’re not alone in that Ever since the United States rose to great power status, it has displayed bouts of… Read more
Politics: After the cuts, a growth strategy – this is an electoral as well as economic plan
On Monday night, all new Conservative MPs were summoned to a meeting with the chief whip in Portcullis House. On Monday night, all new Conservative MPs were summoned to a… Read more
Liberal Democrat ministers are discovering the Conservative facts of life
The evening before the government was formed, I walked back from the television tent city on College Green to the House of Commons with a man who was about to… Read more
Politics: If Cameron is heir to Blair, Osborne is heir to Brown
In many ways, Gordon Brown and George Osborne are opposites. In many ways, Gordon Brown and George Osborne are opposites. When Brown became chancellor, he moved into the smallest, dingiest… Read more
Innocents abroad
In John le Carré’s fiction, personal morality collides messily with the grimly cynical expediencies of global politics. In John le Carré’s fiction, personal morality collides messily with the grimly cynical… Read more
The match that sparked the Civil War
There are turbulent marriages. And then there are turbulent marriages in which the husband ends up getting beheaded on a stage. This book describes the latter. One doesn’t normally need… Read more
Latest blogs
- Rupert Murdoch: Cameron’s in trouble – I read it in The Spectator. Fraser Nelson
- Lamont: QE is blowing another bubble. It will soon meet a pin. Norman Lamont
- Can any government really expect to carry out ambitious reform? Isabel Hardman
- Spectator Play: what’s worth watching, listening to or going to this weekend Camilla Swift
- Drummer Lee Rigby Douglas Murray
- Eight Golden Rules for Tragedy Tweeting Freddy Gray
- Government behaving badly over ‘quietly aborted’ lobbying reform Iain Anderson
