What the campaign to abolish inheritance tax tells us about British politics
The Daily Telegraph, where I worked for a decade, has launched a campaign for the abolition of inheritance tax (IHT).…
The trouble with Britain’s net migration figure
Where to start with the net migration figures? As someone who has generally defended liberal immigration policies, I could just shout,…
The Tories would be lost in opposition
It is widely observed that many Conservatives are preparing to lose power at the next general election. The Conservative Democratic…
We need to talk about the Liberal Democrats
Since 2015, it has been common and rational for people in Westminster to ignore the Liberal Democrats. After the end…
Will the Tories become radicalised over the ECHR?
I’m writing this shortly after hosting Professor Tim Bale and David Gauke at the Social Market Foundation for a talk…
Women are being ignored again in the surrogacy debate
Just over five years ago, I wrote an article here about sex and gender and the issues raised by policies…
There’s still a hint of life in the Tory party
Westminster is a place of consensus, orthodoxy and prevailing wisdom. At any given moment, there is the Narrative, the story…
How self-ID helped bring down Nicola Sturgeon
In the years when I wrote a lot about sex and gender and politics and law, I made the same…
Why yesterday’s men will loom large in 2023
New year, old politicians. Yesterday’s men will loom large in the politics of 2023. British politics has a nostalgia problem,…
Rishi Sunak will regret his Channel crossings crackdown
Rishi Sunak’s latest promises on asylum and immigration suggest the PM has learned very little from his Tory forebears. Ken…
The choice between higher immigration and even higher taxes
‘Only the higher-than-expected numbers of migrants coming to the UK under the post-Brexit migration regime adds materially to prospects for…
What the Gavin Williamson saga says about British politics
I wonder if the fall of Gavin Williamson is the latest evidence that British political parties are becoming harder to…
Raising inheritance tax is fair and right
Here’s a thought experiment about tax and fairness. Imagine two people, Janet and John. They’re both 30 years old. Janet…
Liz Truss's fate rests with the Bank of England
James Carville, an ostentatiously aggressive adviser to Bill Clinton, once said that when he died, he wanted to be reincarnated…
The case for an October election
Neither Liz Truss nor Rishi Sunak would name Gordon Brown as an inspiration, but I wonder if whoever becomes PM…
Why the Tavistock clinic had to be shut down
There are many reasons why what is sometimes crudely called ‘the trans issue’ is important. One is the political failure…
The bravery of Allison Bailey
Allison Bailey is a criminal defence barrister at Garden Court chambers in London, a large and important group of lawyers…
The Conservative party has ceased to be serious
I’m not sure that the Conservative party wants to win elections. Tom Tugendhat was knocked out of the leadership contest…
Is Labour changing its mind on trans issues?
Amid the noise of the Tory leadership fight, some significant comments in the papers could be missed today. Here’s the quote,…
A storm is coming – and none of the leadership candidates are ready
You’ve probably heard the joke about the two hikers facing an angry bear. One changes into his running shoes, telling…
Boris didn’t break the system
Britain’s Donald Trump. A constitutional vandal. A grave and potentially even systemic threat to the rule of law and representative…
The night that David Cameron sealed Britain’s Brexit fate
Friday 29 June 2012 isn’t a famous date in British history, but it deserves at least a footnote. Because I…
Are we heading towards a British Donald Trump?
The Tiverton and Wakefield by-elections are, of course, shatteringly bad for the Conservatives and Boris Johnson. They should finally destroy…
Why Starmer shouldn't relaunch
Yesterday’s Times carried a report that will only add to Sir Keir Starmer’s troubles. It quoted several members of the…
The Sue Gray media circus is political journalism at its worst
It’s a helicopter day at Westminster. I’m writing this at my desk, which is about 200 metres from the House…
