The Spectator

The Spectator is Britain’s oldest and most influential magazine, with incisive political and economic analysis, unrivalled books and arts reviews, and unmissable lifestyle writing, plus the funniest cartoons. It’s more cocktail party than political party, and we’d love it if you joined us.

Over Budget

The Spectator

CONTRIBUTORS

PORTRAIT OF THE WEEK

DIARY

Travelling light

Revenge of the Blob • Good teachers are under siege

Miss remembered • Scotland’s ‘bullying’ deputy first minister was my teacher

Harry and Meghan deserve a second chance

Troubles ahead • Ireland is succumbing to a wave of ‘radical chic’

Law footing • The Northern Ireland Troubles Bill only serves the IRA

PRESENTER’S NOTEBOOK

My Prague awakening • A visit in the 1970s cured me of my communist sympathies

Mail order • Cut the price of stamps to save the Christmas card

Going for broke

Ring cycle • Tolkien knew the truth about power

BAROMETER

I’ve reclaimed the word ‘cripple’

‘Easy in, easy out’ • Our universities are addicted to Chinese students

LETTERS

Bessent should remember Thatcher: you really can’t buck the market

BOOKS & ARTS

Mischief and melancholy • Frances Wilson examines the dark side of the du Maurier family

Screen time

The cult of the Duce

All about Eve

Animal spirits

From blues to rap

Beauty and truth

The edge of doom

The worm’s-eye view

A natural spy

Love actually • Renoir could be sentimental — but his best paintings are penetrating and adventurous, says Robin Simon

At least there’s no zombies

Taking the Cure

Party people

A rare bird

The Path in the Wheat

Music and lights

Moscow mule?

Marvel Tokon: Fighting Souls

Grockles

No life

Dog’s life

Still life

Fast life

Sinquefield Cup

Ods against

2767: Smoky

Sea sea HQ

YOUR PROBLEMS SOLVED

SPECTATOR WINE

Bring back the privileged class

The Battle for Britain

Why dating apps don’t work

A Greek tragedy

My sympathies with Meghan

Taxi