The nine contenders to be Burnham’s chancellor
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Andy Burnham is going to be yet another terrible prime minister
Labour’s heading for a catastrophic collision with reality
Did the Iran war work?
Britain must finally embrace gene editing
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Why did the Bedford train accident happen?
The Ben Stokes affair is unfortunate but funny
The hard part starts now for Andy Burnham
How the King can help save Dartmoor’s ponies
Why Restore were humiliated in Makerfield
The Iran deal is not as good for the mullahs as it looks
Why the Tories really beat the SNP in Aberdeen South
Why Makerfield backed Burnham
Why Andy Burnham could be tempted by a snap election
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Andy Burnham’s landslide: Starmer’s downfall begins
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Spectator Life
An intelligent mix of culture, food, style and property, plus where to go and what to see.
Let’s smarten up our shopfronts
From Spectator Life
The sad death of tabloid English
From Spectator Life
Whoops, I’ve given my children a gambling problem
From the magazine
‘Through ecstasy I say: it’s perfect’: The Old Original Bakewell Pudding Shop reviewed
From the magazine
Sir Christopher Wren’s one country church
From Spectator LifeSir Christopher Wren did it all. 51 City Churches after the Great Fire of London. St Paul’s Cathedral. Hampton Court, Greenwich Hospital, Royal Hospital Chelsea… But he never built an English country church. Or did he? This weekend, I went to an enchanting service at St Mary’s, Ingestre, Staffordshire, to celebrate its 350th anniversary. There is only one document connecting Wren to the church – his design for ‘Mr Chetwynd’s tower’. The Chetwynds built the neighbouring pile, Ingestre Hall. Their descendant, Aaron Chetwynd, lives in the neighbouring stables and kindly asked me to give a talk on Wren at the Ingestre Hall orangery after the church service. Walk inside St Mary’s and it's spine-tinglingly moving.
Four more Royal Ascot tips after a 25-1 winner
From Spectator Life
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The Brexit decade
Was it worth it?
The Brexit decade: was it worth it?
It may not feel or sound like it but Keir Starmer is a born-again Brexiteer. His achievements in office may be nugatory, his search for a legacy tragicomic, but there are countless actions this government boasts of which simply would not have been possible if we had stayed in the EU. Earlier this year, Labour moved to protect our steel industry with a tariff package possible only because we have an independent trade policy. I was delighted this month when the minister in the Lords made it clear this was a Brexit benefit. Those same Brexit freedoms allowed the Chancellor last month to cut tariffs on more than 100 foodstuffs to ease the cost-of-living crisis.
The Brexit decade: was it worth it?
It may not feel or sound like it but Keir Starmer is a born-again Brexiteer. His achievements in office may be nugatory, his search for a legacy tragicomic, but there are countless actions this government boasts of which simply would not have been possible if we had stayed in the EU. Earlier this year, Labour moved to protect our steel industry with a tariff package possible only because we have an independent trade policy. I was delighted this month when the minister in the Lords made it clear this was a Brexit benefit. Those same Brexit freedoms allowed the Chancellor last month to cut tariffs on more than 100 foodstuffs to ease the cost-of-living crisis.
Culture
The good, the bad and the ugly in books, exhibitions, cinema, TV, dance, music, podcasts and theatre.
The glorious silliness of tribute band names
From the magazineSeeing a tribute band can be a strange experience. There are your heroes on stage once more, magically rejuvenated and playing the music of your youth. You too feel briefly young again – until you notice everyone else at the gig is also at least 57. But as often as not the band is brilliant. They have lovingly tracked down the right guitars, effect pedals and amp settings in search of the perfect sound. They have styled their hair just so, applied the requisite tattoos and, at some obvious expense, commissioned perfect replicas of signature stage outfits. See Björn Again and the girls might come complete with the purple capes worn for Abba’s 1980 world tour before changing into the white-booted ‘SOS’ look.
A ballet masterpiece revived – but where’s the pony?
From the magazineIs there anything sadder than a Scots Gaelic lament?
From the magazine
Toy Story 5 contains delicious touches
From the magazine
Clarkson’s Farm remains the best drama on TV
From the magazine
Head to Deptford for one of the exhibitions of the year
From the magazine
A play that shows Iranian society is like our own
From the magazine
Cartoons
‘‘He’s been sent home for politicising the egg and spoon race.’’
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‘‘I’ve found a sweet “How to Avoid a Social Media Ban” guide on TikTok.’’
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