The Spectator

Podcast: George Osborne’s conference speech

Isabel Hardman and James Forsyth were both at George Osborne’s speech this afternoon. Here’s a special podcast, with analysis of the speech and a look at what else we might expect from this year’s conference: listen to ‘Podcast special: George Osborne’s speech’ on audioBoom

The Spectator at war: A ‘five-footers’ regiment

From The Spectator, 26 September 1914: [TO THE EDITOR OF THE ” SPECTATOR.”] SIR,—Devon recruiters are in despair at the raising of the standard of height to 5 ft. 6 in., for the average height of our West Country men is apparently low. To the non-military mind it seems difficult to understand why the man of

The Spectator at war: Aids to recruiting

From The Spectator, 26 September 1914: [TO THE EDITOR of THE “SPECTATOR.”] Sir,—I am having put up in our parish church a brass on which is inscribed the names of all parishioners who are serving in the present war. A space will be left after each name in which the fortune of the parishioner can be

The Spectator at war: How it strikes the soldier

From The Spectator, 26 September 1914: One knew, of course, perfectly well that there was a very good feeling between men and officers in the British Army, and that there was a great deal of mutual respect and liking and good fellowship. What is very moving, however, is the belief that every soldier seems to

Helium

‘To make this interview more entertaining I would like you to take a breath of helium before answering the questions.’