World
Germany’s flag burning ban is a threat to freedom of expression
Germany’s national parliament has made the public burning of the European Union flag and flags of foreign countries punishable by…
Where is Britain's China strategy?
The UK doesn’t have a China strategy. We have not had one since George Osborne declared a ‘golden era’ of…
Is it time to bring back Steve Bannon?
Until recently, it seemed unlikely that Donald Trump would need to call on the services of his former strategist Steve…
The growing evidence on vitamin D and Covid
The argument that vitamin D deficiency may contribute to more severe cases of Covid is gaining ground. It is now…
Tories should listen to Farage’s warnings about Channel migrants
The idea of a flotilla of little ships crossing the English Channel from France to deposit their beleaguered human cargo…
Why didn't Boris act sooner against coronavirus?
It is too easy to become obsessive in whole or partial lockdown. And my obsession for weeks now is why…
Still, the Global War on Terrorism goes on
I can think of only a single positive thing to say about World War One: it ended. Yet in addition…
It isn’t necessarily the economy, stupid!
‘It’s the economy, stupid!’ With those now famous words, the Democratic strategist James Carville summarized the 1992 election between President…
Jonathan Sumption: 'You cannot imprison an entire population'
The current rationale for the lockdown is incoherent. The old rationale was: ‘you must spread the infections over a longer…
Why did Justin Amash give up?
Three weeks after announcing his bid for the Libertarian party presidential nomination, Justin Amash has called it off. What went…
Sweden has pioneered an alternative to lockdown – and it works
Uppsala The culture of social distancing does strange things to us. A few weeks ago I got an invitation to…
The terrible ageism of our current lockdown
I’ve always thought western society was terribly ageist, and I don’t just mean ‘showbiz’ folk but across the board. Then…
Boris Johnson needs to admit his coronavirus mistakes
Be careful what you wish for. Over the past few years, a fair number of thoughtful Tories have included a…
My fears about the 'new normal'
Perhaps there’s light at the end of the long lockdown tunnel. The roadmap at least allows hope that life might…
Stimulus squabble marks a return to politics as usual
Who is the proposed new $3 trillion stimulus package designed to help? If enacted, the bill — which narrowly passed…
Do the experts believe in the R number?
The R-number has been declared the most important metric in monitoring Covid in Britain. For young children to return to school…
Kayleigh McEnany is winning the 2020 election
Well, isn’t she lovely? Kayleigh McEnany, Trump’s new press secretary, is already winning the hearts and minds of locked-down males…
My positive antibody test is an ‘immunity passport’ in all but name
I wouldn’t say I felt I had joined a master race when my coronavirus ‘immunity passport’ arrived this week. But…
Covid's knock-on effect on child deaths
The daily death toll has been a constant backdrop to the Covid-19 crisis. Would we ever have entered lockdown, would…
Extremists are going to thrive in the post-lockdown world
Throughout the lockdown I’ve been nagged by a persistent thought. As I sit indoors and read the news; as I…
Why are some people being repeatedly tested for coronavirus?
Testing, the government keeps telling us, is the way out of the coronavirus lockdown. Soon, the Prime Minister assured us…
Do you believe Tara Reade?
Without a doubt, women who level sexual assault allegations against powerful men are often subjected to character assassination and smears.…
Inside Boris Johnson's video call with Tory MPs
One of the consequences of the virtual parliament is fewer opportunities for MPs to lobby No. 10. However, this afternoon…
Misgendering is the real COVID crisis
If it’s true that coronavirus is less likely to kill people with high levels of testosterone, Dr Rachel Levine —…
Boris's war on obesity is a mistake
In less enlightened times, an outbreak of a deadly virus was taken as a sign of God’s displeasure and would…
