Tom Goodenough is online editor of The Spectator.
In this week’s issue, Owen Matthews discusses Vladimir Putin’s endgame in Syria. He says Russia’s bombing of Aleppo this week was intended to send a clear message: that the Russian President is in charge. But Owen says Putin’s strategy is his riskiest yet. What does it mean for the hopes of peace in war-ravaged Syria?
Michael Fallon has used his visit to the Falklands to pinpoint Jeremy Corbyn – not Argentina – as the biggest threat to islanders. During his trip to the Falklands, the Defence Secretary insisted that Argentina wasn’t the main worry for the Falklands – it was actually the Labour leader and his party. He said: ‘The
EDF has bought itself some valuable time over its decision about whether or not to build a new nuclear plant at Hinkley Point. The energy giant said it was going to be extending the life of four of its nuclear power stations in the UK. Heysham 1 and Hartlepool will now stay open for another
Household incomes have finally topped the levels they were at just after the financial crash. The average household in Britain now earns £24,300 a year, above the last peak in 2009. The picture looks rosy, with rising employment and low inflation helping income growth rise. But is there more to it than meets the eye?
David Cameron has claimed his deal with the EU gives Britain ‘special status’. The PM has also said Brexit would be a ‘leap in the dark’ but with the high-profile loss of Michael Gove and Boris Johnson to the out campaign, it seems that not all Conservative MPs agree with him. Who are the other
It was a bad day in front of the Public Accounts Committee for Dame Lin Homer. Despite being the outgoing boss of HMRC, Homer admitted she was no tax expert: Meanwhile, Google boss Matt Brittin also had a miserable time in front of the committee. He was laughed at during the hearing after appearing to
It was never going to be an enjoyable experience trying to defend Google in front of the Public Accounts Committee following the recent row over their tax arrangements. But the company’s European President Matt Brittin came in for a particularly torrid time as he was quizzed by Meg Hillier today. As well as appearing to
Bernard Hogan-Howe did his best to appear calm on the Today show but it is clear he is increasingly rattled by the pressure he is under. The Met Police commissioner was on the front page of several newspapers this morning for all the wrong reasons. ‘Just say sorry’, screamed The Sun. The Daily Mail went
Jacob Rees Mogg might be one of the best known Eurosceptic faces in Parliament but he won’t be leading the charge for Brexit. The Tory backbencher laughed off the suggestion on the Daily Politics that he would be the face of the leave campaign – saying he didn’t need to rule himself out ‘because no
David Cameron’s mum has joined the battle against Conservative cuts, it has emerged this morning. Mary Cameron’s intervention after signing a petition to save childrens’ centres has been splashed over the front page of the Daily Mirror. The headline: ‘Cameron’s mum fights Tory cuts’ looks deeply embarrassing for her son. Is this a family rift?
Liam Fox, speaking on the World at One, denounced No 10’s suggestions that leaving the EU would mean Britain could see a Sangatte-style ‘Jungle’ emerge in the UK. He said it was a ‘complete red herring’: https://soundcloud.com/spectator1828/liam-fox-on-migrant-camps David Cameron said his prison reform plans were a ‘bold and radical second term agenda’: But there was scepticism
David Cameron has outlined his plans for prison reform today. But does he genuinely care about prisons or is he only concerned with shaping his own legacy? The Prime Minister labelled the number of prisoners reoffending as ‘scandalous’. He also pledged to protect the £130m prison education budget. His motives may seem worthy but it’s
Haven’t had a chance to follow the day’s political events and interviews? Then don’t worry: here, The Spectator, brings you the best of today’s audio clips in one place for you to listen to. Philip Hammond hit out at the UN after a panel ruled that Wikileaks founder Julian Assange was being ‘arbitrarily detained’ and
The Spectator’s fifth most-read article of the week was Nigel Farndale on what life was like on board a warship in our ‘much reduced’ Royal Navy. Nigel joined the crew of HMS Bulwark in the Mediterranean where he found a Royal Navy undergoing an identity crisis amidst swingeing cuts. Our fourth most-read piece was Damian
Haven’t had a chance to follow the day’s political events and interviews? Then don’t worry: here, The Spectator, brings you the best of today’s audio clips in one place for you to listen to. Margaret Beckett said she is hoping and praying for a second Jeremy Corbyn ‘miracle’: There was praise for Miles Goslett in
Haven’t had a chance to follow the day’s political events and interviews? Then don’t worry: here, The Spectator, brings you the best of today’s audio clips in one place for you to listen to. David Cameron did his best to try and talk up the draft EU package he negotiated with Donald Tusk as he
David Cameron has delivered his statement to the Commons on the draft EU reform package. The PM said it was an ‘important milestone’ and again talked up the agreement – despite the furious backlash in the newspapers today. Have a listen to the opening lines of his statement here: After ignoring the issue during PMQs,
David Cameron has done his best to talk up his draft package of reforms with the EU. He said yesterday: ‘If I could get these terms for Britain, I sure would opt in’. But how have the papers reacted to the proposed agreement? The bad news for the Prime Minister is that many front pages
Haven’t had a chance to follow the day’s political events and interviews? Then don’t worry: here, The Spectator, brings you the best of today’s audio clips in one place for you to listen to. David Cameron gave his reaction following the publication of Donald Tusk’s proposals for Britain’s renegotiation with the EU. Speaking to a
For the last three years, David Cameron has held out the prospect of voting ‘no’ in the referendum if he could not get the deal he wanted. Today he has – unsurprisingly – claimed victory. Yes, he says, there’s more to do on the draft deal – but it not too much because what he’s