Innovation
The centre cannot hold – the failure of Change UK and the atrophying of political thought
The latest disasters to befall Change UK—Chuka Umunna’s decision to join the Liberal Democrats and the party’s decision to change its name for a third time—are a good excuse...
On Britain beyond Brexit and the future of Conservatism
THE END-OF-AUSTERITY message has certainly got through to the Centre for Policy Studies (CPS). On June 10th the CPS launched “Britain Beyond Brexit”, a new collection of essays edited...
On Change UK’s inadequacies, political agreements and missing Scots
I WAS much impressed by Heidi Allen’s first speech when she left the Conservative Party to join the Independent Group, now known as the Change UK Party. How could...
On “Fleabag”, a Corbyn government and Kenneth Clarke’s tandoori moments
I FINALLY GOT round to watching a few episodes of “Fleabag” to see what all the fuss is about. A few good scenes, I thought, and a magnificently disgusting...
On “Game of Thrones”, Conservatism, Israel and Lidl
“GAME of Thrones”, which, in case you hadn’t noticed, returned for its eighth and final season this week, has already had a profound impact on the television industry (if...
On parliamentarians talented, vainglorious, entertaining and anarchic
Our Britain columnist considers the best and the worst of MPs in a lively week in the House of Commons and beyond
On political caricatures, “real” policies and the idea of public service
THE PARADOXES of Brexit multiply by the day. Brexit was supposed to allow Britain to take back control of its destiny. This week a British prime minister sat in...
On democracy, Sir Lewis Namier and the struggles of the super-rich
I SPENT MUCH of this week in the House of Commons press gallery not knowing whether to laugh or cry. Theresa May laying out the case for her deal...
