What does Nicola Sturgeon want for Christmas?
Dying of heat The former government chief scientific adviser Sir David King predicted that the heatwave in mid-July could cause…
2574: A Chinese – solution
Each unclued Across light (including the pair at 16/7) is a SWEET and the unclued Down lights can be preceded…
Letters: red kites are a menace
Free Kaliningrad Sir: Mark Galeotti was right to identify the exclave of Kaliningrad as a target for a strong western…
Portrait of the Week: the gilt market, Larry the Cat and Iranian protests
Home The Bank of England warned of a ‘material risk’ to financial stability as it stepped in to buy a…
China's great leap backward
This month should have marked the end of Xi Jinping’s time as leader of the Chinese Communist party. The twice-a-decade…
2573 - solution
The preamble referred to ten symmetrically placed unclued entries which spell out CURRENT PUZZLE NUMBER HAS PRIME FACTORS: THIRTY-ONE, EIGHTY-THREE.…
Who has the most nuclear weapons?
Out of office Could Liz Truss end up being Britain’s shortest-serving prime minister? She would have to remain in office…
Portrait of the week: Tory party conference, gas supply warning and Denmark’s royals stripped of titles
Home Liz Truss, the Prime Minister, came up with a message for the Conservative party conference: ‘Whenever there is change,…
Letters: Why I love Warhammer
Troubles ahead? Sir: Jenny McCartney’s article ‘Border lines’ (1 October) was a profoundly depressing one. Perhaps there will be a…
Give Liz Truss a chance
Conservative governments have a habit of self-destructing: they die not in battle with political enemies but as a result of…
Full text: Liz Truss's Tory conference speech
My friends, it’s great to be here with you in Birmingham. It’s fantastic to see the cranes across the skyline building…
Letters: Britain needs the English National Ballet
Putin’s options Sir: I agree with Paul Wood that Vladimir Putin is on the back foot (‘Cornered’, 24 September). His…
Rupa Huq and the politics of prejudice
The Labour party’s contribution to the national debate this week has included the idea that someone can be ‘superficially’ black.…
Portrait of the week: Chancellor unveils his unBudget, Hilary Mantel dies and corgi prices soar
Home Kwasi Kwarteng, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, presented a far-reaching ‘fiscal event’ (ineligible to be called a Budget), said…
2572: Blown up - Solution
As suggested by the quotation by John Donne around the perimeter, the other unclued lights were all kinds of trumpets.…
Who was the first monarch to live in Buckingham Palace?
Fit for a king King Charles III, it has been reported, is reluctant to move into Buckingham Palace. Who was…
In search of Trussonomics
When Liz Truss entered the leadership race there was no such thing as ‘Trussonomics’. She began her campaign with no…
Portrait of the week: Queen Elizabeth’s funeral, capped energy prices and uncapped bankers’ bonuses
Home Queen Elizabeth was buried in St George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle, beside her husband and father, after a funeral at…
2571: 10” - solution
The TEN unclued lights are Scottish islands – or ‘INCHES’. First prize Mrs F.A. Bull, Canterbury Runners-up Susan Hay, Wolverhampton;…
Letters: Why the Union may not be so secure under Charles
The Queen’s kindness Sir: Last week’s Spectator (17 September) was thoughtful, insightful and at times hilarious; just the tonic I…
Who had the most highly attended state funeral?
The namesakes Some of history’s other Charles IIIs: – Charles III, King of Naples (1382-86): forced Pope Urban VI into…
America's touching tributes to the Queen (1901)
The United States hasn’t always reacted rather snidely to the death of the British monarch. Below is The Spectator’s lead…
The complete guide to the Queen's funeral
Today, the world says farewell to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. World leaders, including US president Joe Biden, French president…
Did Elizabeth II have anything in common with Elizabeth I?
Sovereign’s states When she died, Elizabeth II was Queen of 14 nations other than the UK: Antigua and Barbuda; Australia;…
Letters: My childhood memory of the Queen
Majestic memories Sir: The sad news of the death of Queen Elizabeth II took me back 70 years to my…
