The Week
It's not too late for Boris Johnson
It is two years since Boris Johnson achieved one of the most remarkable election victories in modern history. The large…
Lockdown, protests, parties and Matt Hancock’s kiss
January The United Kingdom found itself in possession of a trade agreement with the EU. Coronavirus restrictions were tightened. The…
Boris’s Covid rules are coming back to bite him
In normal circumstances, no one would care if staff in No. 10 held a Christmas party. But last year, Boris…
Sheffield, our great underappreciated city
I was born and raised in Sheffield, a proud steel-making city which drew much of its energy from a sense…
It’s time to settle the Great Omicron Question
Time to settle the Great Omicron Question. First, there is no word omikron (and no c) in ancient Greek. Second,…
Letters: the army should be used as an emergency service
Flood relief Sir: In my lifetime there have been at least two major flood emergencies when the armed forces have…
Portrait of the week: No. 10 parties, a ten-year drugs strategy and Burmese arrest
Home Sajid Javid, the Health Secretary, said that the Omicron variant of coronavirus was spreading by community transmission in ‘multiple…
A new Covid variant, a Labour reshuffle and a Twitter resignation
Home In a nervous response to the entry into Britain of the Omicron variant of Covid-19 — B.1.1.529 — the…
Is Latin worth learning?
A teacher wanting to teach Latin has enquired whether it is worth doing because the subject has ‘such a bad…
What effect did a year of lockdowns have on gun crime?
Thirsty work Sixty-one pub-goers on a night out in the Tan Hill Inn, 1,500 feet up in the Pennines in…
The birth of the culture wars
The last time I wrote for The Spectator’s diary slot, over the summer, theatres were tentatively beginning to turn their…
The army can’t be deployed for every crisis
Last week, the government published its blueprint for how it intends to remodel the army. According to the plan, it…
How accurate is the ‘Waitrose test’?
The Waitrose test Sir: Like Rod Liddle, I live in the north-east of England — a little further north and…
Europe’s unvaccinated don’t take kindly to being turned into second-class citizens
Amsterdam These are dangerous times in the Netherlands. Anti-lockdown mobs have torched cars, thrown rocks and attacked the police.…
The true cost of Boris
Earlier this week, the Conservative party sent an appeal to its registered supporters asking them to become members. ‘We’re delivering…
The ancients would have approved of Durham’s prostitute plans
The ‘globally outstanding’ University of Durham has plans to help its undergraduates who pay their way by prostituting themselves. Three…
Has Peppa Pig changed political sides?
Red Peppa? In a rambling speech to the CBI, Boris Johnson praised Peppa Pig. Has she changed political sides? Peppa…
Letters: Europe’s contribution to peace
Peace project Sir: It was heartening to read your editorial on the peace which has reigned in Europe since 1945,…
Portrait of the week: Boris’s shambolic CBI speech, more Covid protests and Kyle Rittenhouse is cleared
Home Boris Johnson, the Prime Minister, praised Peppa Pig in a speech to the Confederation of British Industry: ‘Who would’ve…
Emad Al Swealmeen should not have been in Britain
Emad Al Swealmeen, who blew himself up in a taxi outside the Liverpool Women’s Hospital, is not believed to have…
Greta and the gap between words and actions
Greta Thunberg and her supporters were loud in protest at COP26, but one wonders to what end. They demanded deeds,…
Does Leeds need trains – or trams?
Shell out Royal Dutch Shell announced that it is to move its HQ to London and become a fully British…
Letters: it isn’t climate change scientists who are the hysterics
Balance of power Sir: Ross Clark sums up the problem with wind power (‘Storing up trouble’, 13 November). It is…
Portrait of the week: a Liverpool terror attack, the end of COP26 and the Belarus migrant crisis
Home The UK terror threat level was raised to severe after a taxi exploded and burst into flames just before…
It’s hard not to pity Ghislaine Maxwell
This week, I’m having puppies! First litter! The Johnsons were not doggy as we always moved around too much (my…
