Society

Tuesday

Alexander Larman

Has Taylor Swift lost it?

The Pet Shop Boy Neil Tennant once remarked that every successful musician has what he called ‘an imperial phase’, during which they can apparently do no wrong. In the case of Taylor Swift, the most successful and famous musician on the planet, her imperial phase has lasted from 2012, when she released her breakthrough album Red, until now, when she gifted the world her latest record, The Life of a Showgirl. It’s 2025’s most anticipated and most hyped release, following her lengthy, world-conquering Eras tour, and handily comes off the back of her engagement to American football player Travis Kelce, who many of its songs are about. Some of Swift’s fans are making a valiant

Monday

Monica Porter

The generosity and graciousness of Jilly Cooper

Over many years as a journalist, writing for newspapers as well as authoring books, I’ve dealt with a sizeable number of celebs. And believe me, the majority are not exactly likeable. Well, no doubt their chums find them so, but their fame and money and ‘specialness’ tend to imbue them with haughtiness and self-importance, traits they bestow on those they regard as ‘the little people’. Their genial public personas are, I’ve often discovered, merely flimsy facades. The most shining exception to this general rule was Jilly Cooper, whose death at the age of 88 was just announced. I was deeply saddened to learn of it. We never met in person,

Robin Ashenden

Why the snobs were wrong about Jilly Cooper

Dame Jilly Cooper, who died today, finally achieved the acceptance that she’d always deserved. She wrote numerous volumes of witty, clear-sighted journalism, London-based romances like Prudence, Bella and Octavia – and, of course, her ‘Rutshire Chronicles’ series, set in the Cotswolds and featuring the wicked homme-fatale and aristo-sexbomb Rupert Campbell Black. They were books hoovered up as much by adults as by teenage girls and – though they hid the fact – often their younger brothers. There remained a widespread snobbery about her ‘bonkbuster’ novels – largely, perhaps, because they dealt mainly with the middle and upper classes Yet there remained a widespread snobbery about her ‘bonkbuster’ novels – largely, perhaps,

Chas Newkey-Burden

What’s wrong with ‘angry, middle-aged white men’, Gary Neville?

Just when you thought we could all stop talking about flags, Gary Neville has arrived with his size ten boots to keep the ball in play. The ex-Man Utd footballer, turned property developer, said he removed a union flag from one of his Manchester sites because it was being ‘used in a negative fashion’. He also complained in a video message posted on social media that we’re being divided by ‘angry, middle-aged white men who know exactly what they’re doing’. I’m surprised it took Neville so long to wade in on flags because he’s always seemed up for a scrap. As a player, he wore his heart on his sleeve, goading

Stephen Pollard

Jews don’t need Tommy Robinson

It is doubtless apocryphal, but it’s said that when Ernest Bevin heard someone say that Aneurin Bevan was his own worst enemy, he replied, ‘Not while I’m alive ‘e ain’t.’ Sometimes Israel behaves as if it is its own, and the diaspora’s, worst enemy That came into my mind when it emerged that the Israeli minister for Diaspora Affairs, Amichai Chikli and Amir Ohana, the Speaker of the Knesset, have invited Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, more widely known as Tommy Robinson, to Israel. I am, as regular readers will know, a strong supporter of Israel. That’s not just because I am Jewish (although writing a history of Jewish migration, my latest book,

Gavin Mortimer Gavin Mortimer

Sébastien Lecornu’s exit is a humiliation for France – and for Macron

In a sensational development, Sébastien Lecornu has resigned as prime minister of France. His departure, after 27 days in office, makes the 39-year-old the shortest reigning premier of the Fifth Republic. Lecornu’s resignation is a humiliation for him, for France and for Emmanuel Macron. The president has now worked his way through seven prime ministers in eight years, a Fifth Republic record he shares with Francois Mitterrand. He, however, presided over France for fourteen years. The catalyst for Lecornu’s departure was the new government he unveiled on Sunday evening The catalyst for Lecornu’s departure was the new government he unveiled on Sunday evening. He has promised a ‘break’ with Macron’s

Lee Cohen

Britain’s Jews must stay and fight

Britain once prided itself on being different from France, Belgium and Germany, where Jewish blood was repeatedly spilled on European streets. Now the same contagion has arrived in your green-but-less-pleasant-land. Britain was never free of prejudice, but unlike Europe, its anti-Semitism never captured a major party or defined the state – until our times. The Manchester attack was not merely an assault on Jews. It was an assault on Britain’s soul I write as an American of Jewish heritage, and a lifelong champion of Britain – the nation that turned liberty into law, and faith into citizenship. I write to offer a warning to Britain’s Jewish community: Don’t flee your

Sam Leith Sam Leith

We’re all doomed if English literature students can’t read books

The question has changed, as one Oxford don noted wanly on social media, from ‘What are you reading at university?’ to ‘Are you reading at university?’ Such is the state of undergraduates entering English literature courses these days, brains addled by scrolling on their mobile phones, that universities are now offering ‘reading resilience’ courses to help them tackle the unfamiliar task of reading long, old, sometimes difficult books. It’s a whole new cause of gloom to discover that even students who have actively signed up to study English literature at university are struggling to read books We’re accustomed, some of us, to feeling gloomy about the sinking popularity of Eng lit – once comfortably among the most popular choices at A-Level

Patrick West

Judges are finally rediscovering their common sense

Believe it or not, some judges in this country are starting to show signs of having a connection with reality and in possession of an outlook based on common sense. It’s hard to credit it, given the roll call this year of judges delivering over-lenient verdicts in regard to asylum seekers wanting to remain in Britain – often on highly dubious and sometimes ludicrous grounds. But it’s really happening. Change is afoot. Believe it or not, some judges in this country are starting to show signs of having a connection with reality This has become apparent not in the High Court or immigrant tribunals, the places where those notorious judgements

Alexander Larman

Is Greggs losing its way?

For many, it is hard to overstate the appeal of Greggs, one of those rare high street chains that provides good-quality food at affordable prices. When it comes to such hero items as the steak bake or the sausage roll – whether with actual sausage or the vegan equivalent – it has inherited the Lyons Corner House’s mantel as the nation’s go-to eating spot of choice. Usually, every piece of news about it, whether it’s announcing its pop-up pub in Newcastle or its recent venture into service stations, is a positive one. This makes it all the more disappointing to find out that it is raising its previously notably fair

Sunday

Philip Patrick Philip Patrick

Why Japan doesn’t care about having its first female leader

Japan is to have a female prime minister. Well, probably. Sanae Takaichi, the 64-year-old conservative veteran, has at the third attempt won the presidency of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) – which brings with it the bonus of being prime minister. Or at least it usually does. The LDP are currently in a coalition government, so Takaichi’s appointment will need to wait a couple of weeks to be confirmed at an extraordinary session in the diet (the national legislature). You might think the Japanese, feminists especially, would make something of having their first female prime minister, but the news has elicited not much more than a shrug here. There has

Renie Anjeh

The conservative case for Malcolm X

Five years ago, following the murder of George Floyd, a ‘racial reckoning’ shook the West. For some it was a time for our part of the world to come to terms with the reality of racism and to address the legacy of white supremacy. For others the protests following Floyd’s death poured petrol on the fire of the culture wars; racial divisions became reified and Britain was intellectually colonised by our American overlords in a spectacle of futile kneeling, black squares, virtue signalling and gesture politics. What I saw during that period, however, was the ghost of Malcolm X, haunting our times like Banquo at the feast. He was born

Colin Freeman

The Brits who fought in Ukraine deserve to be remembered

Last week, a West End arts venue hosted ‘Indomitable Ukraine’, a war artefacts exhibition with everything from prosthetic legs to captured Russian battle plans. It was put on by the War Museum of Ukraine and had an added poignancy for British audiences. On a black memorial board was a list of nearly 40 names of British citizens who have died while serving with Ukraine’s International Legion – or, as the memorial puts it: ‘defending Ukraine against Russia’s aggression.’ As things currently stand, there are no plans for any permanent British memorial to those who have fought for Ukraine Families of the fallen were invited to a special showing of the

Saturday

Chris Reiter and Will Wilkes

German reunification never really happened

It’s not easy for Germany to celebrate itself. But on Friday, the country tried. At the official celebration festivities for the Day of German Unity, the city of Saarbrucken near the French border hosted musicians, breakdancers, acrobats, magicians, and oddly, two actors dressed as a ‘talking sofa’ to entertain visitors. Frank-Walter Steinmeier, the official head of state of the Federal Republic, spoke, alongside Chancellor Friedrich Merz. French President Emmanuel Macron also took part, to underscore the European dimension of Germany’s reunification. Notably, Angela Merkel, the only chancellor born in East Germany, and Joachim Gauck, the only federal president from the former communist ‘new states’, were not present – absences that highlight how Germany is

Sue Mitchell

The truth about life in migrant hotels

A string of fairy-lights is the only item dividing the hotel room Shayan, 12, shares with her 14-year-old brother, Roman. In her ‘half’ of the room – slightly larger than the single bed she sleeps in – is a neat stack of shoe boxes she uses for her notebooks, make-up and jewellery. When I visit, the room is airless: the blinds are drawn all day to stop outsiders from seeing in, and the windows are sealed shut for safety. The air conditioning doesn’t always work and, although the coast is only a few miles away, Shayan’s family rarely leave the hotel. ‘We’ve spent thousands of pounds just to get into

Jonathan Romain

Seven minutes and a lifetime of terror at my Oxford synagogue

Like thousands of Jewish people, I was in synagogue on Thursday when the news came. My community and I were celebrating Yom Kippur – the most sacred day of the Jewish calendar when even non-practising Jews attend services. Suddenly dozens of mobile phones began to erupt with messages and a stream of murmurs echoed round the congregation: a synagogue had been attacked in Manchester. This was the nightmare scenario that had been at the back of our minds for many years, now coming true via reports of a seven-minute car and stabbing rampage. Yes, we were shocked and appalled – but not surprised. Ever since Hamas terrorists attacked Israel on

Paul Burke

Is this the end of black over-representation in advertising?

The advertising industry, so painfully obsessed with ‘diversity’ in TV commercials, has been publicly criticised for a lack of diversity in TV commercials. We’ve been here before. But this time, everyone in advertising will be delighted about the criticism. They – we – all know that for many years, there’s been an unrealistic overrepresentation of black people in TV ads. Well, this has now been measured, proved and published in a report commissioned for Channel 4. It asserts that while black people account for around 4 per cent of the UK population they appear in more than 50 per cent of commercials.   But because of the terror of somehow appearing racist in a

Daniel French

How Sarah Mullally can fix the Church of England

Regardless of whether Sarah Mullally was our preferred choice for the new Archbishop of Canterbury, we should wish her well in her appointment. I hesitate to say ‘congratulate’, as this role is not a career prize but a demanding ministry of service. An archbishop should emulate Christ, who came not to be served but to serve. It is hard to live this way, especially under media scrutiny, doing a job so busy. In a few months, Canterbury will enthrone its new successor to Saint Augustine. I have mixed feelings about these inauguration and enthronement services. I love the Anglican pomp and circumstance but cringe when a new bishop or archbishop receives applause, or worse, punches the air as if they’ve scaled

Friday

Marcus Walker

Sarah Mullally’s appointment gives me hope

‘I look forward to spending the next seven years with you,’ said Bishop Sarah Mullally at the Diocese of London’s ‘Chrism Mass’ on Maundy Thursday this year. ‘Well, that’s her out of the race,’ said everyone – and everyone was wrong. Perhaps this is a modern twist on the old nolo episcopari rule: that those being considered for episcopal office had to make clear they didn’t want it. Which, frankly, would be wise right now. As the Bishop of Gloucester put it, anyone wanting to be Archbishop of Canterbury ‘needed their head examined.’ The church is in a mess. It is deflated and downhearted; the old issues of female ordination

Alexander Larman

Patricia Routledge was the model great British thespian

It is the fate of any actor or actress who is inextricably associated with one major role that, when they die, the obituaries will lead with their best-known part rather than any of their other accomplishments. So it has proved with the great classical actress Patricia Routledge, who has died at the grand old age of 96. There are so many things to celebrate about Routledge’s life, whether it’s her collaborations with Alan Bennett and Victoria Wood, her distinguished stage career (which lasted right up until her eighties) or such thoroughly enjoyable slices of middlebrow televisual fluff as Hetty Wainthrop Investigates. But in truth, the cry ‘Keeping Up Appearances actress