Brexit’s potential is beginning to be realised
The purpose of Brexit was to strengthen Britain’s ties with both the world beyond Europe and with Europe itself, but…
How controversial was Basic Instinct?
Stone me Boris Johnson threatened to unleash the ‘terrors of the Earth’ on an unidentified Tory MP who claimed that…
Letters: Workshy Whitehall has its benefits
In check Sir: Jade McGlynn (‘Conflict of opinion’, 23 April) has a point that there are many reasons for popular…
Portrait of the week: Twitter takeover, late nights for pubs and a row over leg-crossing
Home Ben Wallace, the Defence Secretary, said Britain assessed that 15,000 Russians had been killed in the war against Ukraine…
2549: Obscurity – solution
PALE FIRE is a novel by Vladimir NABOKOV (18). Synonyms of words in the novel’s title are 7, 15A, and…
Letters: The hard truth about soft power
Soft ground Sir: We have heard much over the years from the overseas aid lobby about the value of soft…
Portrait of the week: Boris packs his bags, XR blocks bridges and Netflix viewers switch off
Home Boris Johnson, the Prime Minister, told the House of Commons that it did not occur to him that the…
Britain and the West must step up support to Ukraine
The first few weeks of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine went so badly that it was tempting to see the withdrawal…
Which countries have the most expensive train tickets?
Park the issue Gladstone Park in Brent may be renamed as a result of the former PM’s connections with slavery.…
How much did Emily Maitlis cost licence fee payers?
Off duty How many non-doms are there in the UK? – In the year ending 2020, 75,700 people filled in…
The French election should be a warning for Boris
In just over a week’s time, Emmanuel Macron will most likely win a second term. He has the opponent he…
To survive, Boris Johnson must do more than pose as a war leader
Attending an impromptu birthday party in the office is not the most heinous of crimes, and of course Britain’s fixation…
Letters: The Scottish government must be held to account
Backward devolution Sir: Thanks for once again highlighting the many issues with government in Scotland (‘Sturgeon’s secret state’, 9 April).…
Portrait of the week: Boris in Kyiv, Rishi in hot water and crystal meth in a cereal packet
Home Boris Johnson, the Prime Minister, travelled to Kyiv in secret and joined President Volodymyr Zelensky for the cameras in…
2548: Poem VII - solution
The poem is ‘Rondeau’ by Leigh Hunt. Its first three words as quoted in ODQ are ‘JENNY KISSED ME’ (diagonally…
Portrait of the week: Covid fines, cancelled flights and sunflower oil shortages
Home Jonathan Reynolds, Labour’s business spokesman, said that the government should be preparing for energy rationing, but Grant Shapps, the…
What happened to Tory radicalism?
Whatever advantages money may have brought Rishi Sunak as he rose to become Chancellor of the Exchequer, his wealth has…
Which foods are seeing the biggest price rises?
Palm substitutes Palm Sunday was so-called because of the palm fronds thrown before Jesus on his entry into Jerusalem. But…
Letters: The revelation that could force Boris to resign
The lie’s the thing Sir: Your leading article (‘Partygate’s hangover’, 2 April) maintains that if the Prime Minister receives a…
2547: Ascending order - solution
The unclued lights are phrases which include the numbers from 1 to 7, with 1 featured twice. First prize John…
Letters: To achieve net zero, we need to go nuclear
Nuclear future Sir: It is refreshing to see Martin Vander Weyer note that, properly and fully costed, nuclear power is…
Portrait of the week: Partygate penalties, Oscars drama and Dairy Milk shrinks
Home Twenty fixed-penalty fines were issued after the police inquiry into Downing Street parties that broke Covid rules, but the…
How much of a litre of fuel is now tax?
Common knowledge Tensions in the visit of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge to Jamaica led some to speculate that…
2546: Picture book - solution
NICOLAS POUSSIN painted ET IN ARCADIA EGO and A DANCE TO THE MUSIC OF TIME. The latter inspired ANTHONY POWELL,…
Boris Johnson and the partygate hangover
Afew weeks ago it seemed that the issue of Downing Street parties over lockdown had been usurped by a more…
