The Spectator
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Politics, culture, cartoons and more.
The constant flailings of the embattled Labour PM never cease to shock, amuse and entertain. But having successfully quelled the immediate revolt against his premiership, Starmer has, once again, pulled defeat from the jaws of victory. âď¸ Steerpike
spectator.com/article/star...
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Starmer suspends ex-comms chief over sex offender links
This is Keir Starmerâs worst week in politics â and it is still only Tuesday. The constant flailings of the embattled Labour PM never cease to shock, amuse and entertain. But having successfullyâŚ
https://spectator.com/article/starmer-suspends-ex-comms-chief-over-sex-offender-links/
about 11 hours ago
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Over two decades, the obsession with net zero, pushed by a deluded Westminster and City establishment, has cost Britainâs oil and gas giants that position. âď¸ Matthew Lynn
spectator.com/article/net-...
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Net zero is forcing BP into irrelevance
It is possible that with a focus on finding and distributing oil and gas again, BP and Shell can claw their way back to the top.
https://spectator.com/article/net-zero-is-forcing-bp-into-irrelevance/
about 13 hours ago
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Being chained to the desk, going to the pub and only getting home once the kids were asleep might have been acceptable in the Eighties. âď¸ Stephen Daisley
spectator.com/article/what...
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What Farage fails to understand about working from home
Being chained to the office desk, going to the pub and only getting home once the kids were asleep might have been acceptable in the Eighties
https://spectator.com/article/what-nigel-farage-fails-to-understand-about-working-from-home/
about 14 hours ago
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Are Jews not allowed even one day of commemoration? Canât they have just one sombre moment where they might remember their dead without mobs of wild-eyed Israelophobes frothing at the mouth for yet more âintifadaâ? âď¸ Brendan O'Neill Article |
spectator.com/article/coul...
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about 16 hours ago
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The statement issued by Buckingham Palace last night, addressing the ongoing fallout from the latest release of Epstein files, was undeniably terse. âď¸ Alexander Larman Article |
spectator.com/article/the-...
about 17 hours ago
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On Coffee House Shots: After a dramatic day in Westminster, the threat to Starmer appears to have receded â at least in the short term. But with the Gorton and Denton by-election less than three weeks away, (more) trouble could be on the horizon.
spectator.com/podcast/is-s...
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Is Starmer back from the brink?
After a dramatic day in Westminster, the threat to Starmer appears to have receded â at least in the short term. But with the Gorton and Denton by-election less than three weeks away, (more) troubleâŚ
https://spectator.com/podcast/is-starmer-back-from-the-brink/
about 17 hours ago
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Takaichi played to her strengths and steered clear of one-on-one debates, swerving Japanâs main political programmes. âď¸ Philip Patrick
spectator.com/article/what...
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What Kemi Badenoch could learn from Sanae Takaichi
Takaichi played to her strengths and steered clear of one-on-one debates, swerving Japanâs main political programmes.
https://spectator.com/article/what-kemi-badenoch-could-learn-from-sanae-takaichi/
about 18 hours ago
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âDaftâ is such a wonderful word. Not for the first time, Iâve wished I was from Yorkshire, so that I could say it with its full gumption and contempt. âď¸ Julie Burchill Article |
spectator.com/article/the-...
about 19 hours ago
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Whatever happens in Westminster, it ought to be clear to Labour MPs that Keir Starmer is a political failure. âď¸ Nick Cohen Article |
spectator.com/article/why-...
about 19 hours ago
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Stoppard is a national treasure and to say anything rude about his work, especially in the three months after his death, would be heresy. âď¸ Ysenda Maxtone Graham
spectator.com/article/am-i...
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Am I allowed to find Tom Stoppard boring?
Have we lost our thirst for Tom Stoppard's rather wordy, multi-subject intellectual dazzlement?
https://spectator.com/article/am-i-allowed-to-find-tom-stoppard-boring/
about 20 hours ago
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With maid-master plots, one worries that the whole thing will be about the âdownstairsesâ getting ideas above their station â which can be so tiresome to watch. Must Bridgerton, I worried, take on workersâ rights too? âď¸ Zoe Strimpel
spectator.com/article/the-...
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The puerile fantasy of Bridgerton Britain
There is something inherently embarrassing about watching Bridgerton in Britain. It is so palpably, monstrously, uninhibitedly woke.
https://spectator.com/article/the-puerile-fantasy-of-bridgerton-britain/
about 21 hours ago
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If you really must visit Rome, then take my advice: go and see the Pantheon â which has lasted so much better than the crumbling tower blocks and motorway bridges that blight modern Italy â and then get out. âď¸ Ross Clark
spectator.com/article/dont...
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Donât bother visiting Rome
Once a city erects turnstiles to tourist attractions which were once free to visit, it is time to go elsewhere. Such is the case in Rome.
https://spectator.com/article/dont-bother-visiting-rome/
about 21 hours ago
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Is it the job of the curriculum to play catch-up with demographic shifts? Is it the role of literary education to âreflectâ the present day, or synthesise history? âď¸ Clarissa Hard
spectator.com/article/the-...
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The problem with âdiversifyingâ English literature
Lit in Colour, a campaign launched by Penguin and the Runnymede Trust to diversify English literature, has recently released its five-year progress report. âDiversityâ for this campaign doesnât meanâŚ
https://spectator.com/article/the-problem-with-diversifying-english-literature/
about 21 hours ago
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We expect performers who have superb performing skills to be intelligent and insightful. But this is a mistake. âď¸ Gareth Roberts
spectator.com/article/the-...
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The eternal danger of an actor without a script
Actors have been saying unscripted things again. Riz Ahmed is the star of a brand-new film version of Hamlet directed by Aneil Karia and set among the South Asian community in contemporary London. HeâŚ
https://spectator.com/article/the-eternal-danger-of-an-actor-without-a-script/
about 23 hours ago
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Debate among parliamentarians is not drawn on party lines but rather a battle between upholding the tradition of parliamentary processes at all costs and pragmatism about ensuringâŻan urgent makeover as quickly as possible. âď¸ Graham Watts
spectator.com/article/the-...
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The restoration of parliament has become a shambles
For most of us the term R&R means the promise of rest and relaxation but for anyone associated with the Palace of Westminster it stands for âRestoration and Renewalâ, a long overdue process that hasâŚ
https://spectator.com/article/the-restoration-of-parliament-has-become-a-shambles/
about 23 hours ago
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On this week's Holy Smoke: âMoltbookâ, a social network built exclusively for AI agents â has created its own AI âreligionâ. What does this mean for humankind?
spectator.com/podcast/molt...
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Moltbook: has AI created its own religion?
What did you most recently use Artificial Intelligence for? For most people, the answer would be as a glorified search function, using services like Chat GPT to ask questions, draft text and evenâŚ
https://spectator.com/podcast/moltbook-has-ai-created-its-own-religion/
about 23 hours ago
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Labourâs day of internecine briefing and counter-briefing obviously had some hilarious moments. The ominous sight of David Lammy prancing into No. 10 to offer his support was a highlight of the day. âď¸ Madeline Grant Article |
spectator.com/article/star...
about 24 hours ago
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Together, the bill for these schemes is a staggering ÂŁ10 billion, and that is just for those claiming via Universal Credit or legacy working-age benefits. âď¸ Caroline Elsom
spectator.com/article/univ...
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Universal Creditâs shadow system costs ÂŁ10 billion
Itâs been 13 years since the introduction of Universal Credit (UC), which was designed to simplify benefits
https://spectator.com/article/universal-credits-shadow-system-which-costs-10-billion/
1 day ago
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The cabinet have had to rally round Sir Keir by going to the monumental effort of copy and pasting a supportive tweet onto their official X accounts. âď¸ Madeline Grant
spectator.com/article/star...
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Starmerâs last stand reeks of desperation
Youâd expect better attendance at a Drag Queen Story Time in Kabul than there was from Labour backbenchers.
https://spectator.com/article/starmers-last-stand-reeks-of-desperation/
1 day ago
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Sarwar was left with the grenade in his mouth and it went boom, big-style. Labour MPs are furious with him. They want the Mandelson psychodrama over and done with. Sarwar has added fresh dimensions to it. âď¸ Stephen Daisley
spectator.com/article/anas...
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It is Anas Sarwar who must now resign
Sarwar said Scots were âcrying out for competent governmentâ and that âthe situation in Downing Street is not good enough.â
https://spectator.com/article/anas-sarwar-must-now-resign/
1 day ago
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When it comes to timing, I suppose the real question is whether the PMâs rivals move to depose him before his own conscience decides enough is enough. âď¸ Michael Simmons
spectator.com/article/will...
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Will Keir Starmer jump before he's pushed?
Or they junk the fiscal rules, go full-blown old Labour tax and spend and try to weather any storm that creates in markets.
https://spectator.com/article/will-keir-starmer-jump-before-hes-pushed/
1 day ago
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What are Mr Laiâs crimes? He has been convicted and jailed for being a threat to national security under the draconian national security law imposed on Hong Kong by Beijing in 2020. âď¸ Benedict Rogers
spectator.com/article/brit...
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Britain cannot leave Jimmy Lai to die in jail
Beijing has been allowed to make an example of Mr Lai by imposing a cruel sentence. Now it must be pressed to show clemency.
https://spectator.com/article/britain-cannot-leave-jimmy-lai-to-die-in-jail/
1 day ago
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There has been much hand-wringing and drama about what the royal family should be doing â and criticism of what they are doing â about the former Duke and Duchess of York and their respective relationships with Jeffrey Epstein. âď¸ Alexander Larman Article |
spectator.com/article/will...
1 day ago
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In more ways than one, Lang is Franceâs answer to Peter Mandelson, a figurehead for the bourgeois left and a figure of loathing for those on the other side of the political spectrum. âď¸ Gavin Mortimer
spectator.com/article/epst...
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Epstein has brought down Franceâs Peter Mandelson
The fall of Jack Lang also raises uncomfortable questions for the Elysee and France's president Emmanuel Macron
https://spectator.com/article/epstein-has-brought-down-frances-peter-mandelson/
1 day ago
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Big Tech is not hiring British politicians to unlock capital or access intelligence. What it increasingly lacks, and increasingly needs, is legitimacy: the ability to operate across jurisdictions without appearing too ungovernable. âď¸ Charlie Walker
spectator.com/article/why-...
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Why Big Tech keeps hiring Britain's former politicians
Britain has not captured the commanding heights of the digital economy; it has supplied competent managers for someone elseâs empire.
https://spectator.com/article/why-big-tech-keeps-hiring-britains-former-politicians/
1 day ago
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Colman boasts about not spending time with people who are âstaunchly heterosexualâ. Does she think itâs catching? âď¸ Julie Burchill
spectator.com/article/the-...
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The extraordinary daftness of Olivia Colman
âDaftâ is such a wonderful word. Not for the first time, Iâve wished I was from Yorkshire, so that I could say it with its full gumption and contempt. Itâs not used as much as it should be, and theâŚ
https://spectator.com/article/the-extraordinary-daftness-of-olivia-colman/
1 day ago
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Tim Allan, No. 10âs communications director, has quit his post after barely five months in the role. âď¸ James Heale
spectator.com/article/star...
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Starmerâs director of communications resigns
Tim Allan, No. 10's communications director, has quit his post after barely five months in the role.
https://spectator.com/article/starmers-director-of-communications-resigns/
1 day ago
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The dynamics of schoolboy groups are captured beautifully: the bravado, the rapid changes of mood, the undercurrents of violence and the instinctive formation of hierarchies based on strength, competence and charisma. âď¸ Niall Gooch
spectator.com/article/lord...
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Lord of the Flies is no Adolescence
There are certain works that have attained, through their inclusion in GCSE and A-level syllabuses, an enduring place in the vague memories of several generations of Britons. Of Mice and Men, AnâŚ
https://spectator.com/article/lord-of-the-flies-is-no-adolescence/
2 days ago
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It was almost as though Starmer didnât really know what he wanted to do in government beyond doing things better than the Tories. âď¸ Isabel Hardman
spectator.com/article/what...
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What could a Starmer government possibly achieve now?
What is the point of Keir Starmerâs government now? Morgan McSweeneyâs departure may have been an attempt by the Prime Minister to buy some extra time, like a patient bargaining for expensiveâŚ
https://spectator.com/article/what-could-a-starmer-government-possibly-achieve-now/
2 days ago
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Delaying elections, unless as a result of a national emergency, should be considered an extraordinary act. âď¸ Elliot Keck
spectator.com/article/canc...
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Cancelling council elections means taxation without representation
For 350 years it has been established in the British constitution that taxes can only be levied for the crown with the consent of parliament.
https://spectator.com/article/cancelling-council-elections-means-taxation-without-representation/
2 days ago
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Canât get an appointment with your GP? Nowhere to sit in surgeries crammed with the ill and infirm? Spare a thought for your local auctioneer who is also dealing with the effects of a long winter of discontent. âď¸ Sophie Law
spectator.com/article/auct...
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Auctions speak louder than words
The unpredictable nature of auctions is what makes them thrilling spectacles.
https://spectator.com/article/auctions-speak-louder-than-words/?=2
2 days ago
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Industry is the natural rejection of the veneration for all things traditional and English that Brideshead epitomised. âď¸ Alexander Larman
spectator.com/article/is-i...
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Is Industry the Brideshead Revisited of our times?
The appeal of the BBC show is that it has as deep and innate an understanding of British high-end society as Evelyn Waugh did.
https://spectator.com/article/is-industry-the-brideshead-revisited-of-our-times/
2 days ago
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A Rolls Royce press trip is like being taken by Mary Poppins â Mary of the novel, not the film, she is more savage and interesting. âď¸ Tanya Gold
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A Vermeer of a car - the Rolls Royce Ghost Series II
A test drive in a Rolls Royce Ghost Series II
https://spectator.com/article/a-vermeer-of-a-car-the-rolls-royce-ghost-series-ii/?=2
2 days ago
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I fear that the crassness of Mandelsonâs and Mountbatten-Windsorâs relations with Epstein will erupt into a more general cancel culture against friends who have been convicted of serious offences. âď¸ Ross Clark
spectator.com/article/will...
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Will the Mandelson affair make loyalty a crime?
Nothing excuses the manner of Peter Mandelsonâs communications with Jeffrey Epstein both before and after the latterâs conviction for sex offences.
https://spectator.com/article/will-the-mandelson-affair-make-loyalty-a-crime/
2 days ago
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Mandelson was more like a dull and unimpressive civil servant who was almost laughably overrated. âď¸ Paul Burke
spectator.com/article/the-...
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The truth about Peter Mandelsonâs strategic genius
When it comes to Peter Mandelson, it's been disaster after disaster. Why? Because, at heart, Mandelson is just a political plodder
https://spectator.com/article/the-truth-about-peter-mandelsons-strategic-genius/
2 days ago
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For about fifteen years now, the term has attracted academics and pundits who want to sound edgy. âď¸ Theo Hobson
spectator.com/article/the-...
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The trouble with post-liberalism
You might suppose that sensible mainstream theologians have been calmly refuting such reactionary posturing. If only
https://spectator.com/article/the-trouble-with-post-liberalism/?preview=true
2 days ago
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McSweeney was probably right to resign given the depth of hatred he has engendered in the parliamentary Labour party, but I doubt even he thinks this is the sacrifice that will save Starmer. âď¸ Tim Shipman Article |
spectator.com/article/morg...
2 days ago
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This rising wave of sex between officers and inmates shouldnât be considered in isolation. Instead it is merely another symptom of how lawless, broken and corrupt our prisons have become. âď¸ David Shipley Article |
spectator.com/article/why-...
2 days ago
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If a healthy swathe of English-speaking Americans stared blankly at their screens wondering, âwhat am I watching?â Bad Bunny was undeterred. âď¸ Britt McHenry
spectator.com/article/the-...
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The Super Bowl halftime show gets lost in translation
Bad Bunny's show was either a cultural unifier or a cultural divider, depending on who you ask. At least the music catchy.
https://spectator.com/article/the-super-bowl-halftime-show-gets-lost-in-translation/?preview=true&set_edition=en
2 days ago
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Itâs a matter of grim certainty that the new book will be televised by the BBC, possibly in time for yet another Donaldson Christmas offer. âď¸ Melanie McDonagh
spectator.com/article/do-w...
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Do we need another Gruffalo book?
Oh Lordy. Here we go. The Gruffalo is back â or rather, the Gruffalo Granny â a new take on the most famous childrenâs character of the last 30 years other than Harry Potter. So, weâre goingâŚ
https://spectator.com/article/do-we-need-another-gruffalo-book/
2 days ago
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Tom Holland and Dominic Sandbrook, who host the superb podcast The Rest Is History, are part of the problem as well as part of the solution. âď¸ Sam Leith
spectator.com/article/are-...
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Are podcasts killing off nonfiction books?
Tom Holland and Dominic Sandbrook, who host the superb podcast The Rest Is History, are part of the problem as well as part of the solution
https://spectator.com/article/are-podcasts-killing-off-nonfiction-books/
2 days ago
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Morgan McSweeneyâs resignation wonât save Starmer âď¸ Tim Shipman
spectator.com/article/morg...
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Morgan McSweeneyâs resignation wonât save Starmer
Neither before nor after the election win did Morgan ever persuade Starmer that he needed an ism, a project, a plan and a narrative
https://spectator.com/article/morgan-mcsweeneys-resignation-wont-save-starmer/
3 days ago
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Sunday shows roundup: Pat McFadden defends Keir Starmer âď¸ Joe Bedell-Brill
spectator.com/article/sund...
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Sunday shows roundup: Pat McFadden defends Keir Starmer
Keir Starmerâs government is reeling, as pressure continues to grow around the prime ministerâs appointment of Peter Mandelson as US ambassador
https://spectator.com/article/sunday-shows-roundup-pat-mcfadden-says-its-not-good-to-change-pm-every-18-months/
3 days ago
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The lanyard class are not ready for Reform in Scotland âď¸ Stephen Daisley
spectator.com/article/the-...
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The lanyard class are not ready for Reform in Scotland
The most reliable sign that Reform is doing well in Scotland is the refusal of the lanyard class to engage with the subject
https://spectator.com/article/the-lanyard-class-are-not-ready-for-reform-in-scotland/
3 days ago
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A Britâs guide to Mexican food âď¸ Julie Bindel
spectator.com/article/a-br...
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A Britâs guide to Mexican food
Why canât we do Mexican food at home? Is it not possible to get the correct corn chips for salsa, rather than cardboard Doritos?
https://spectator.com/article/a-brits-guide-to-mexican-food/
3 days ago
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Mandelson got five-figure sacking payoff âď¸ Steerpike
spectator.com/article/mand...
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Mandelson got five-figure sacking payoff
Itâs a tough time for the nationâs finances â but donât worry, one man is doing ok. Lord Mandelson received a taxpayer-funded payoff worth tens of thousands of pounds â despite being sacked as USâŚ
https://spectator.com/article/mandelson-got-five-figure-sacking-payoff/
3 days ago
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Why Gen Z is troubled by Jesus âď¸ Patrick West
spectator.com/article/why-...
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Why Gen Z is troubled by Jesus
In a world where everyone is reduced to having their âown truthâ, many will find the idea of Christianity simply incomprehensible.
https://spectator.com/article/why-gen-z-is-troubled-by-jesus/
3 days ago
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The UK is punishing dual-nationals like me âď¸ David Cohen
spectator.com/article/the-...
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The UK is punishing dual-nationals like me
Clearing customs at Heathrow is about to get a lot more demanding for people like me. Hundreds of thousands of dual British citizens living in New Zealand â and millions of others like us spread outâŚ
https://spectator.com/article/the-uk-is-punishing-dual-nationals-like-me/
3 days ago
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Thereâs untapped gold in Northern Ireland âď¸ James Graham
spectator.com/article/ther...
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Thereâs untapped gold in Northern Ireland
As anyone familiar with Irish folklore knows, itâs a foolâs errand to look for Leprechaun gold at the end of the rainbow. Luckily, in Ulster there is a pot of gold which is far more attainable.âŚ
https://spectator.com/article/theres-untapped-gold-in-northern-ireland/
3 days ago
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The Mandelson scandal is far grubbier than the Profumo affair âď¸ Julie Burchill
spectator.com/article/the-...
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The Mandelson scandal is far grubbier than the Profumo affair
The teenage girls involved in the 1960s scandal â pretty, smart Mandy and beautiful, wild Christine Keeler â were far from trafficked.
https://spectator.com/article/the-mandelson-scandal-is-far-grubbier-than-the-profumo-affair/
3 days ago
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