Leading article
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.…
In search of Trussonomics
When Liz Truss entered the leadership race there was no such thing as ‘Trussonomics’. She began her campaign with no…
The Queen’s act of Union
In death, as in life, Elizabeth II has been a unifying force for her country. For all the political rancour…
Liz Truss can’t ignore the issue of NHS reform
It’s hard to think of any Prime Minister who has entered office surrounded by such low expectations. Liz Truss was…
Russia, Ukraine and the legacy of Gorbachev
In her memoirs, Raisa Gorbacheva recalls the moment when her husband turned from bureaucrat into reformer. ‘I’m in my seventh…
What the Tory leadership rivals haven’t discussed
In just over a week, Britain will have a new prime minister. No one can say that the 160,000 or…
Don’t blame Brexit for our lack of workers
It has become received wisdom that Brexit has condemned Britain to chronic labour shortages. Many of the migrant workers who…
It’s time to repair the damage caused by lockdown grade inflation
When A-level results are published next week, we will find out if the government has made any progress in stemming…
Can Liz Truss be trusted?
Liz Truss has taken the lead in the Tory leadership race with an agenda that seems radical and ambitious, whereas…
Germany’s energy crisis is a warning to Britain
During the eurozone crisis, southern European states had to go cap in hand to Germany to stave off national bankruptcy.…
The heatwave shows the lockdown instinct is still alive
Trains were running even more slowly than usual. Schools were closed again. Offices were empty. No one would deny that…
The Uber scandal highlights big tech’s big failure
A few years ago the Conservatives were excited about the march of the tech giants. Uber was offering an alternative…
A Tory implosion
What is the purpose of a Conservative government? It’s a reasonable question for voters to ask. In 2019 Boris Johnson…
Nicola Sturgeon's referendum stunt
Nicola Sturgeon presents Scotland as a country outraged by Brexit and straining at the leash of the United Kingdom. She…
Cutting the cost of government is the only solution to this crisis
A little over a year ago, The Spectator printed a cover story about the risk of inflation. Britain, we argued,…
Politicians caused the Rwanda deportation debacle
The problem with the bishops in the upper chamber is not that they speak too much, but too little. The…
Airlines must accept the blame for the travel chaos
If you have a flight booked in the next few months, it’s time to worry. A new era of air…
God save the Queen: the monarchy has become more valuable than ever
Rarely has a public figure taken a promise so seriously as the vow that Her Majesty the Queen made on…
Boris Johnson’s guilt
An ability to survive narrow scrapes has been one of Boris Johnson’s defining qualities. The pictures of Downing Street’s lockdown…
Sanction Gerhard Schröder
From the start of the war in Ukraine, the democratic world has shown striking unity in the economic boycott of…
The problem with Macron’s vision for Europe
The Ukraine crisis has transformed international affairs, forcing countries the world over to rethink their alliances and interests. New patterns…
Can anything save Boris Johnson?
As Boris Johnson faced the possibility of a no-confidence motion earlier this year, a large number of Tory MPs decided…
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…
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…
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…