The Spectator

Lions

‘We’re not “in the jungle, the mighty jungle” and we’re not “sleeping tonight”, so please stop singing that song.’

Vampire

‘You can tell your friends at Ukip that this has nothing to do with him coming from Eastern Europe.’

Annoyance

‘I’m going to have to ask you to leave, Sir. Your constant complaining about mobile phones is disturbing the other customers.’

Barometer | 16 May 2013

The first filibuster A bill for an in-out referendum on the EU seems doomed to be killed off by a ‘filibuster’ — a campaign by opponents to keep on talking until it runs out of time. — The filibuster is often assumed to be an invention of Westminster, yet its first recorded use was in

Portrait of the week | 16 May 2013

Home David Cameron, the Prime Minister, flew to Sochi, on the Black Sea, to talk with President Vladimir Putin, principally about Syria. He then flew to Washington, to support the American tour by Prince Harry and hold talks with President Barack Obama. They said that Britain and America wanted to strengthen the moderate opposition in